Wednesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time

Reading 1 and//www.usccb.org/bible/genesis/41:55 GN 41:55-57 42and5-7A, 17-24A When hunger came to be felt throughout the land of Egyptand the people cried to Pharaoh for bread,Pharaoh directed all the Egyptians to go to Josephand do whatever he told them.When the famine had spread throughout the land,Joseph opened all the cities that had grainand rationed it to the Egyptians,since the famine had gripped the land of Egypt.In fact, all the world came to Joseph to obtain rations of grain,for famine had gripped the whole world.The sons of Israel were among thosewho came to procure rations.It was Joseph, as governor of the country,who dispensed the rations to all the people.When Joseph’s brothers came and knelt down before himwith their faces to the ground,he recognized them as soon as he saw them.But Joseph concealed his own identity from themand spoke sternly to them.With that, he locked them up in the guardhouse for three days.On the third day Joseph said to his brothersand Do this, and you shall live for I am a God-fearing man.If you have been honest,only one of your brothers need be confined in this prison,while the rest of you may goand take home provisions for your starving families.But you must come back to me with your youngest brother.Your words will thus be verified, and you will not die.”To this they agreed.To one another, however, they saidand Alas, we are being punished because of our brother.We saw the anguish of his heart when he pleaded with us,yet we paid no heedthat is why this anguish has now come upon us.”Reuben broke in, Did I not tell you not to do wrong to the boy?But you would not listen!Now comes the reckoning for his blood.”The brothers did not know, of course,that Joseph understood what they said,since he spoke with them through an interpreter.But turning away from them, he wept. Responsorial Psalm and//www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33and2 PS 33and2-3, 10-11, 18-19 R. (22)Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.Give thanks to the LORD on the harpwith the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises.Sing to him a new songpluck the strings skillfully, with shouts of gladness.R.Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.The LORD brings to nought the plans of nationshe foils the designs of peoples.But the plan of the LORD stands foreverthe design of his heart, through all generations.R.Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,upon those who hope for his kindness,To deliver them from deathand preserve them in spite of famine.R.Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you. Alleluia and//www.usccb.org/bible/mark/1:15 MK 1:15 R.Alleluia, alleluia.The Kingdom of God is at handandrepent and believe in the Gospel.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10and1 MT 10and1-7 Jesus summoned his Twelve disciplesand gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them outand to cure every disease and every illness.The names of the Twelve Apostles are theseandfirst, Simon called Peter, and his brother AndrewJames, the son of Zebedee, and his brother JohnPhilip and Bartholomew,Thomas and Matthew the tax collectorJames, the son of Alphaeus, and ThaddeusSimon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariotwho betrayed Jesus.Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus, Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.As you go, make this proclamationand ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”