Ordinary Time

February 14, 2022

Scripture Reading:
Genesis 45:3-11, 15

Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?’ But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come closer to me.’ And they came closer. He said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. —Genesis 45:3-7

I cannot imagine what it might be like to have sold your brother into slavery only to find him years later as a leader in the government of a great nation. God wants the very best for all of God’s children including the ones with exceptional talents and the ones who are threatened by those abilities. Parents have a great challenge of guiding children to be the best that they can be while being understanding of people with differing skills. Everyone has talents and skills that are necessary for the fruition of a world ruled by love.

God enabled Joseph to not only become a ruler of Egypt but to also discern that would not have happened had he not faced the jealousy of his brothers who sold him into slavery.  He seemed thrilled to see them and was particularly concerned about his father.

I think Paul may have said it best in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7,  Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Prayer: Lord, grant us the patience love requires and the ability to grow in love. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.