GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 12TH JULY 2017
WEDNESDAY OF THE FOURTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
FIRST READING: Genesis 41:55-57; 42:5-7, 17-24
PSALM: Psalm 33:2-3, 10-11, 18-19
GOSPEL: Matthew 10:1-7
THEME: THE DREAM IS FOR ITS APPOINTED TIME
In our journey of faith, “delay is not denial”. An unanswered prayer is not a denied prayer and a not-yet-fulfilled dream is not a dream in vain. Whatever the Lord has said concerning you will certainly come to pass irrespective of what the enemies of progress seek to do. They may choose to throw you into a pit and prison. They may gossip and stab you at the back; they may seek to disgrace and destroy you but if you remain faithful, the faithfulness of God will see you through.
Joseph narrated two of his dreams to his brothers. In one of such dreams, he told them how he had seen the sun, the moon and eleven stars bowing down to him (cf. Gen 37:9). His brothers were furious with him for a dream so big. They chose to kill the dream by putting the dreamer in a situation far removed from its fulfilment. Consequently, they sold Joseph into slavery for twenty pieces of silver. He ended up in Egypt as a slave. There in Egypt, he had to undergo other trials – false accusation and consequent imprisonment. In all these challenges he kept faith with God.
As destiny would have it, it was precisely in that apparently unfavourable situation that the dream materialized. From the status of a slave, grace and favour lifted him up to the level of governor in Egypt.
In our First Reading, we are told: “And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground” (Gen 42:6). The dream had been fulfilled.
If you too would keep faith with God, the beautiful dream concerning your life will come to pass. Even if it appears to delay, at the divinely appointed time, it would be fulfilled – “For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal, and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay” (Hab 2:3).
PRAYER: Eternal Father, all I ask of you is to become what you had in mind when you first created me. May my heart remain resolute and faithful amidst the changing scenes of life and may the work of your hands give you glory. For the sake of Christ your Son, I pray. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).