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Here are the Bible Book(s)/Chapter(s) to read each day this week.
Note that the readings are based on the New American Bible.
Genesis Chapters 30-33
In Genesis Chapter 25, Jacob stole Esau’s birthright. In Genesis Chapter 27, Jacob stole Esau’s blessing. Jacob was afraid to go back to the land of his birth because he knew Esau had every right to be angry with him. (See Genesis Chapter 32).
How did Esau react to Jacob’s return? (See Genesis Chapter 33).
Ask God to help us speak openly and honestly about our faults and to expect God to respond in a loving way.
Have you ever talked to God about the difficulties you have had in life relating to other people? Which relationship in your life has caused the most pain or brought you the most joy? Is it time to reconcile with an “Esau” in your life?
Genesis Chapters 34-36
Genesis Chapter 36 describes Esau’s family tree.
Imagine the size of your family tree starting with relatives who were alive a few generations ago. Now try to imagine how much larger this tree grows when you start it with relatives who were alive when Jesus was born, about 2,000 years ago.
Exodus 20:12 tells us to honour our families. Let’s give God thanks for passing the gift of life to us through so many generations.
How can you give honour to the many ancestors in your family tree?
Genesis Chapters 37-40
Read the story of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis 37:1-11 again.
What do you think about how Joseph told his brothers about his dreams of power and success? What do you think about how his brothers reacted to him?
Ask God to inspire in all of us dreams of power and success in bringing God’s love to the world, and to help us encourage others to fulfill their own dreams.
How can you encourage someone today?
Genesis Chapters 41-44
In today’s reading, Pharaoh calls upon Joseph to interpret his dream.
Why do you think that God didn’t tell Pharaoh directly and clearly to prepare for a famine, and, instead, sent him a dream that only Joseph could interpret?
Do you want to hear from God to help you make a decision in your life? Ask God to guide you in making this decision, and pay special attention to the conversations and events that start taking place in your life.
Has God sent a “Joseph” on your path to help you see where God is leading you?
Genesis Chapters 45-47
Read Genesis 47:13-26 again.
What do you think about how Joseph acquired money, livestock, land and slaves for Pharaoh?
Read Matthew 20:27-28 and Romans 6:16-23, and then ask God to help you examine your life.
What or who is your master?
Genesis Chapters 48-50
Read Genesis 50:19-20 again.
Joseph underwent many hardships as a result of being sold into slavery by his brothers. Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph of attempted rape. Joseph was then sent to prison for many years. However, in Potiphar’s house, Joseph had been his personal attendant and was put in charge of his household and possessions. In prison, Joseph was put in charge of all the prisoners in the jail.
When Joseph interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, he left prison and was put in charge of the whole land of Egypt. All along Joseph’s life struggles, he was developing skills that would be used to save the lives of his family and of many other people.
Ask God to help us see the good that we can bring to ourselves, to our families, and to others with our skills.
In your life struggles, what skills has God given you?
Exodus Chapters 1-4
Read Exodus 4:1-17 again.
In these verses, God and Moses have a conversation resembling one that a parent would have with an insecure, rebellious teenager.
In verses 4:14-16, God does not give in to the anxieties of Moses, but does compromise by allowing Moses to bring his brother Aaron along to help him speak to the people.
Ask God to help us to balance discipline and compassion when dealing with the sensitivities of others.
Do you have a teenager, employee or someone else over whom you have authority? If so, what lesson can you apply from God’s example in dealing with Moses the next time you have to assign a task to this person? Does the fact that God was patient with Moses help you to believe that God is also patient and understanding towards us today?
A version of this story appeared in the June 16, 2024, issue of The Catholic Registerwith the headline "Testing our patience: what would God do?".
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