Daily Reading for Friday, July 14th, 2023

Reading 1, Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30

¹ So Israel set out with all his possessions. Arriving at Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

² God spoke to Israel in a vision at night, 'Jacob, Jacob,' he said. 'Here I am,' he replied.

³ 'I am El, God of your father,' he said. 'Do not be afraid of going down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.

⁴ I shall go down to Egypt with you and I myself shall bring you back again, and Joseph's hand will close your eyes.'

⁵ So Jacob left Beersheba. Israel's sons conveyed their father Jacob, their little children and their wives in the waggons Pharaoh had sent to fetch him.

⁶ Taking their livestock and all that they had acquired in Canaan, they arrived in Egypt -- Jacob and all his offspring.

⁷ With him to Egypt, he brought his sons and grandsons, his daughters and granddaughters -- all his offspring.

²⁸ Israel sent Judah ahead to Joseph, so that Judah might present himself to Joseph in Goshen. When they arrived in Goshen,

²⁹ Joseph had his chariot made ready and went up to Goshen to meet his father Israel. As soon as he appeared he threw his arms round his neck and for a long time wept on his shoulder.

³⁰ Israel said to Joseph, 'Now I can die, now that I have seen you in person and seen you still alive.'

Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40

³ Put your trust in Yahweh and do right, make your home in the land and live secure.

⁴ Make Yahweh your joy and he will give you your heart's desires.

¹⁸ The lives of the just are in Yahweh's care, their birthright will endure for ever;

¹⁹ they will not be put to shame when bad times come, in time of famine they will have plenty.

²⁷ Turn your back on evil and do good, you will have a home for ever,

²⁸ for Yahweh loves justice and will not forsake his faithful. Evil-doers will perish eternally, the descendants of the wicked be annihilated,

³⁹ The upright have Yahweh for their Saviour, their refuge in times of trouble;

⁴⁰ Yahweh helps them and rescues them, he will rescue them from the wicked, and save them because they take refuge in him.

Light Your Free Payer Candle for a departed loved one