--- title: Daily Readings Reflection for 7/13/09 description: Daily Readings Reflection for 7/13/09 --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2009/07/13/daily-readings-reflection-for-71309#) # Daily Readings Reflection for 7/13/09 Jul 13, 2009 9:00:21 AM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) Reflection on the Daily Readings for 7/13/09 by Fr. Bertrand Buby, SM [Today’s Readings](http://www.usccb.org/nab/) Scripture: Mon. of 15th week. Exodus 1:8-14, 22. Psalm 124:1-3,4-6. 7-8. Matthew 10:34-11:1. Lectionary # 389 Harsh times are seen in the first reading and harsh words from Jesus in the Gospel.  The Psalm captures the tension and persecution that awaits the Israelites while the Gospel shows us how radical the call from Jesus is when it comes to the demands of the realm of God, God's kingdom that Jesus preached. Joseph has died and so has the friendly disposition of the Pharaoh of the time after Joseph. Verse 8 captures the dramatic change in this manner,"A new king, who knew nothing of Joseph, came to power in Egypt." The Israelites are now slaves who do hard labor for their masters, and whose baby boys are to be done away with. It is definitely a reversalo of fortune for the Israelites once Genesis concludes with the death of Joseph.  Exodus means " a way out" and the narrative of the story will unfold in the days ahead in the first reading. The Psalm is seen as referring to the Exodus in which the Israelites were delivered by the waters of both the Red (Reed) Sea and the Jordan river.It expresses four striking examples of the perils coming from the enemies of Israel: their wrath is like a burning fire; flood waters threaten the people with drowning; the monsters of death are eager to consume Israel; traps and nets used for catching prey are now used against the people of Israel. Yet, Israel cries out "Our help is in the name of the Lord." (Psalm 124:8).  They describe their situation, "When men rose up against us they would have swallowed us alive, when their fury was inflamed against us." Jesus expresses his mission as one that will divide his own people and not bring about the peace that he and they desire.  The description of separation and tension within family relationships is especially sharp and difficult for us to listen to. This is unusual for the Lord Jesus. How do we handle the difficult and harsh passages of the Gospels? It seems to contrary to what we hope for and expect from the Lord. Separation and renunciation are very difficult for each one of us. Jesus is uncomprimising when it comes to the proclamation of the kingdom and the demands of discipleship.  Perhaps, we are sensing what Jesus sees and feels happening aroung him. Or maybe the community that Matthew is writing for is one that is threating to divide the membership between Jewish and Gentile Christians. Is their a lesson for us in this reading that would help us do away with the harshness of Jesus?  We each have to struggle not only with the comforting words of the Scriptures but also those that make us cringe. Jesus also said, "Seek you first the kingdom of God and all the rest will be granted you."  Is there a middle ground for understanding these harsh sayings and situations that Jesus proposes to us?  Some questions are unanswered and we live with them.  One writer claims that Jesus asked about one hundred questions of us but answers only three!  Father Viviano gives us this possible way of thinking about the text, "Rather his radical demands are necessitated by the urgent priority of the kingdom of God, and, in his social context (the Jewish family of that day), he could safely presuppose that most family life would go on undisturbed. Such cultures have such an extreme family loyalty that sociologists speak of them as suffering from amoral familism." (New Jerome Biblical Commentary, p.652). 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