Do Good And Avoid Evil

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Saturday of 14th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1, July 10th, 2021
Texts: Gen. 49:29-33; 50:15-26a; Ps. 105:1-2.3-4.6-7;  Mtt. 10:24-33
Today's first reading gave the account of the death of Israel and Joseph.  What concludes our lives here on earth is death; it is the lot of everyone. Israel and Joseph prepared for their death. We learn from Israel and Joseph that death is worth preparing for.  We are to prepare for our own death by living good life.
A question that one can ask in the first reading is this: "For how long we the brothers of Joseph be tormented by their evil?" They are for ever hunted by their evil. It is said, _"When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, 'It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil which we did to him.' So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died, ‘Say to Joseph, Forgive, I pray you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.’"_  Some of us, after going for confession, we refuse to forgive ourselves and so we constantly live in guilt. Joseph had forgiven them but they refused to forgive themselves. Another thing that can make us live constantly in guilt is lack of faith. This occurs when we find it difficult that we can be forgiven; it is the lack of faith in the power of the sacrament of confession. However, that they constantly live in guilt shows that evil is not good and that we should stay away from it. We should always do good and avoid evil. Evil steals away our joy, peace and freedom. Evil puts man in everlasting bondage. No matter what, let us avoid evil and do good.
We learn from Joseph to forgive one another sincerely. The reading shows that Joseph forgave his brothers sincerely in his heart. It is said, _"But Joseph said to them, 'Fear not, for am I in the place of God?  As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.'"_  We need forgiving spirit to be able to live together as brothers and sisters; let us always forgive one another.
Joseph also reminds us today that God has a way of turning evil to good for His faithful ones.  He says, _"As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."_ We should always trust in God and hold firm.
In today's gospel reading, Jesus tells us not to be afraid of evil and death but continue to preach the goodnews. He says, _"So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim up on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."_  
He reminds us that God places so much value on us that He will always show us His loving care. He assures us that our faith in Him will not fail us. He says, _"So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”_ Let us stand firm in our faith inspite of evil and death. We should always bear in mind that God is on our side; He keeps watch over us always.

Lord Jesus Christ, grant that we may not deny You because of fear of evil or death; help us to always live for your glory. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke