The 15th of July, 2023, Saturday is the Memorial of Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. The Holy Bible verses for the mass readings for this day came from the Liturgical Calendar Year 2023.
Reading 1: GN 49:29-32; 50:15-26A
The first reading from the Book of Genesis.
He instructed them, and said to them, “I am to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as a burial place.
There they buried Abraham and Sarah, his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah, his wife, and there I buried Leah: the field and the cave that is therein, which was purchased from the children of Heth.”
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully pay us back for all the evil which we did to him.”
They sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father commanded before he died, saying, ‘You shall tell Joseph, “Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to you.”_’ Now, please forgive the disobedience of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
His brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to save many people alive, as is happening today.
Now therefore don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.
Joseph lived in Egypt, he, and his father’s house. Joseph lived one hundred ten years.
Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees.
Joseph said to his brothers, “I am dying, but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”
So Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7
Response: The humble have seen it, and are glad. You who seek after God, let your heart live.
Give thanks to Yahweh! Call on his name! Make his doings known among the peoples.
Sing to him, sing praises to him! Tell of all his marvelous works.
R: The humble have seen it, and are glad. You who seek after God, let your heart live.
Glory in his holy name. Let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.
Seek Yahweh and his strength. Seek his face forever more.
R: The humble have seen it, and are glad. You who seek after God, let your heart live.
You offspring of Abraham, his servant, you children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
He is Yahweh, our God. His judgments are in all the earth.
R: The humble have seen it, and are glad. You who seek after God, let your heart live.
Gospel of the Day: MT 10:24-33
From the gospel scripture according to Matthew.
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.
It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!
Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.
What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.
Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.”
“Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.
But whoever denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.”
