2023 Daily Lenten Journey – Day 38

I hear it all the time. “I can’t come to Church. My family is visiting.” “I can’t…..because my family….” On the surface this appears to be a sound excuse to miss Church or another Christian obligation. Yet, I always wonder when I hear this excuse. Should the family love this person enough to come to Church also, or at least wait until after Church? Let’s face it. Family doesn’t always support our faith choices.

When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present which they had with them, and bowed down to him to the ground.  And he inquired about their welfare, and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?”  They said, “Your servant our father is well, he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and made obeisance.  And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!”  Then Joseph made haste, for his heart yearned for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there.  Then he washed his face and came out; and controlling himself he said, “Let food be served.” Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him; and he cried, “Make every one go out from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.  And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.  And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.  So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, I pray you.” And they came near. And 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 yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.  And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.  So it was not you who sent me here, but God; and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.  Make haste and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not tarry; you shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have; and there I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come; lest you and your household, and all that you have, come to poverty.’  And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.  You must tell my father of all my splendor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Make haste and bring my father down here.”  Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.  And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.  When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, “Joseph’s brothers have come,” it pleased Pharaoh and his servants well.

Genesis 43:26-31; 45:1-16

The story of Joseph in Egypt is central to our understanding of Pascha. Next week we will hear Jesus compared to Joseph who was sold into slavery. But today, I want to look at the story of Joseph and his brothers as it relates to our families.

Joseph’s own brothers sold him into slavery. It is true that Joseph was gracious when he saw his brothers again, but it is still true that his family abandoned him. They even lied to their father about him. We only read a short excerpt from the story today. It is enough, though, to help us understand that even family can work against us.

Our inspiration from Joseph beyond that Jesus will be compared to him tomorrow, is that he was gracious to his brothers. We understand that blessings can come even when family is against us. We can’t hold grudges against anyone, let alone family. We need to forgive and restore our relationships as far as it is in our control.

There is one more lesson to learn from this story before we complete Great Lent. Betrayal can come from anyone. When Christ says “Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.” (Matthew 10.21) don’t think just about Cain and Abel. Think about Joseph. I has happened, and it will happen again…and again…and again.