Word to the Wise
Thursday, July 10, 2025 - Thursday in the 14th Week in Ordinary Time
[Gen 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5 and Matt 10:7-15]"I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into Egypt. But now do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you." [Genesis]
Many of us can remember the musical Joseph and his amazing technicolor dreamcoat by Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice. Although the musical does feature forgiveness and reconciliation, there is no mention of God or faith, Its charm can easily pass over those. We are left to supply that from our own faith and tradition. The story, on its own, has power. It is the last line in today's first scripture from Genesis that supplies the element of faith that underlies the entire story and is missed by the musical. "It was really for the sake of saving lives that God has sent me here ahead of you."
It is true that out of a serious misdeed - Joseph being sold into slavery by his own brothers because of resentment and sibling jealousy - God can bring tremendous good. The good in this case is not only that famine relief will be given, but, more importantly, forgiveness is given from a faith perspective. What was terribly wrong and painful becomes, paradoxically, a saving event. The early Christian community found inspiration in this when considering the meaning of Jesus' own death and resurrection. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
God may seem absent in times of great sorrow and suffering. How can God "let this happen?" The mystery of human suffering is all around us. We have only to note what the news media are telling us about Gaza and Ukraine and Sudan, or the terrible flood in Central Texas a few days ago. Disaster is all too common. The proverbial "silver lining" may seem a fable. But we may ourselves help to make a "silver lining" possible by our own faith response. "How can I help?" Joseph could have ordered his brothers slain on the spot when they came to seek famine relief. We are all called to be "first responders" because our brothers and sisters are crying for help. God's help was manifest in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, but God's help is now also present in the faith and actions of believers. The challenge on all levels is to forgive and heal. AMEN