The story of Joseph occurs in the last chapters of the Book of Genesis. In today’s first reading we discover how it all begins when the jealousy and hatred of his brothers leads them to sell Joseph into slavery.
The parable of Lazarus and the rich man pokes at our consciences. Do we see the poverty around us and respond with compassion? We know the teaching of Jesus…may we ask the Lord for the grace to put His words into practice.
The prophet Isaiah exhorts the people of Israel to wash themselves clean – seeking God’s goodness and avoiding evil. It’s a message that is just as relevant today.
The Transfiguration of Christ offers a glimpse of God’s glory on the way to the Cross. This moment – seeing Jesus as he reigns in Heaven – offers us hope as we carry our crosses, confident in the Lord’s victory.
We find in this selection from the Sermon on the Mount one of the hardest teachings of Jesus: to love our enemies. Yet when we do this we cleanse our hearts of hate and fill them with God’s grace, so that we will be prepared to follow Christ in this life and be with Him in the next.
Jesus affirms the preaching of Jonah to repent. This is the constant message throughout salvation history: to acknowledge our sins and return to the Lord for mercy and forgiveness.