The scripture readings for this reflection can be found at: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/031320.cfm
Being a parent isn’t always easy. Sometimes parents
are the last to see clearly what’s going on with their children. If you have
more than one child, you understand the foolishness of loving, or preferring,
one of your children over the others.That’s what we have in our first reading. We see a father playing favorites with his youngest son, to the point of failing to see how his other children are feeling neglected. And we see the bitterness in the hearts of the other sons towards Joseph. Joseph, obedient to his father, goes to help his brothers. But, from a distance they see Joseph coming and say, “Here comes that master dreamer!” and plan on killing him out of jealousy towards him due to their father loving him more than he loved them. They say, “Let’s kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns.” Their jealously for him is so great!
They stop short of murder, but instead they allow
greed to set in and sell Joseph off to slavery for 20 silver pieces.
Later, in Genesis, Joseph becomes an instrument of God
to save his father and brothers from famine. In Genesis chapter 50, verse 20 we
read what Joseph tells his brothers: “Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good.”Many of the Church Fathers see in the story of Joseph a foreshadowing of Jesus’ life and God’s plan for salvation. Joseph was the favorite son of his father. Jesus is the favorite son of His Heavenly Father. Both were betrayed for pieces of silver. Joseph would go on to save his father and brothers from famine. Jesus would go on to bring salvation to all mankind at the hands of those who were jealous and envious of Him.
As we approach the Eucharist today, let us remove all bitterness that we may have for others in our lives. Let us, like Joseph, be forgiving of them, even if we feel betrayed by them. And as we receive our Lord in Holy Communion, let us pray for those we find most difficult to forgive.
Following was sent to me via email:
ReplyDeleteThank you, Deacon Tom, for such a clear and beautiful comparison between the examples of betrayal committed against Joseph's and Jesus’ lives; and resulting in their own ironic reactions of forgiveness and saving love towards their oppressors, (to Joseph's brothers who sold him to slavery; and to the people who condemned Jesus to death). In addition, you linked these incidents of betrayal and the opposite acts of humility and love, in order to make those of us who may have encountered in our own lives typical incidents causing us to carry within us a deep remorse towards others. YOU SPECIFICALLY ASKED US TO FOLLOW IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JOSEPH AND JESUS: BY REMOVING THE BITTERNESS WE MAY HOLD TOWARDS OTHERS AND SUBSTITUTING IT WITH FORGIVENESS AND PRAYERS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE HURT US, by the grace of God, (especially, when we approach our Lord, to receive the Holy Eucharist, in HOLY MASS, and more so, during this period of Lent and Inner Conversion).
Beautifully Put...
In Christ Jesus,
Nilda V., OCDS