July 11, 2025 Friday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot
Daily Readings: Genesis 46:1–7, 28–30; Matthew 10:16–23
Jacob hesitates to go down to Egypt, but God appears to him in a vision and assures him of His divine plan. God promises to make Jacob a great nation, guarantees His constant presence, and assures him that He will bring him back. He even comforts Jacob by saying that Joseph will be there to close his eyes.
Jacob, along with his sons, daughters, their wives, livestock, and all their possessions, journeys to Egypt. Though the journey from Canaan is long and demanding, it is filled with hope and longing— or Jacob is about to reunite with Joseph, his beloved son once thought dead, now the governor of Egypt. Upon seeing his aged father, Joseph falls on his neck and weeps bitterly. So moved is Jacob that he declares he is ready to die, having seen Joseph alive. The purpose of his long wait is fulfilled. A profound sense of gratitude to God and peace fills Jacob’s soul.
The Gospel continues Jesus’ missionary discourse to the disciples. He makes it clear: the missionary journey will not be smooth. His disciples will be like sheep among wolves. Not only will outsiders oppose them, but divisions will arise even within families. Betrayal, legal troubles, hatred, and persecution will become part of daily life.
Yet Jesus offers a guiding principle: endurance. “The one who endures to the end will be saved” (v. 22). He also instructs them to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” The mission requires both prudence and purity cleverness without corruption, strength without violence. The most reassuring promise is that the Spirit of God will speak through them. Jesus’ envoys must remain empowered by nurturing a deep life of prayer and a steady engagement with the Word of God.
Call to Action: Joseph of the Old Testament is a powerful model of forgiveness. Are we ready to forgive those who have hurt us?
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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