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Reflection on the Gospel – Saturday, July 12, 2025
Dear friend,
Today we say goodbye to the last great characters of Genesis, Jacob and Joseph, closing this amazing chapter of the Bible. Get ready, because on Monday we start the exciting book of Exodus.
The story ends like this: Jacob, feeling that his time on earth is ending, asks for something special—that when his people return to Canaan, they take his remains to the cave of Machpelah in Hebron, the place Abraham bought and where his ancestors rest. His death is told in a simple but very moving way: “He gathered his feet into the bed, breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.” It’s impossible not to imagine that scene full of peace and meaning.
Then Joseph stays with his brothers. And again, Joseph shows he is an incredibly noble person with a big heart. He tells them, “Don’t be afraid; am I in the place of God?” Basically, he reminds them that it is God who judges and decides. But the most inspiring part is how Joseph sees everything that happened from a divine point of view: “You meant to harm me, but God meant it for good, to save many people, as we are today.” And the text adds: “He comforted them and spoke kindly to them.” What a positive and wise way to see things!
The Gospel continues Jesus’ missionary speech to his disciples. Three times Jesus says, “Do not be afraid.” This is our Lord’s advice because He knows well what fear can do when it settles in our hearts: it paralyzes, frightens, discourages, and tires us. It makes us see ourselves as less than we are; it makes problems bigger than they really are, turning them into monsters; it stops us from looking forward with hope; it makes us believe we cannot face our hardest challenges. If we let fear take over, we become powerless.
I love this phrase: “Fear knocked at my door, faith got up to open, and no one was there.”
May the Virgin Mary, whom we remember today as every Saturday, pray for us in our fight against fear. She is the Mother of faith and hope.
Your brother in faith,