"I am Joseph," he said to his brothers.
"Is my father still in good health?"
But his brothers could give him no answer,
so dumbfounded were they at him.
Today's first reading gives us the climax of a very long story in the Book of Genesis (chapters 37-50). If it were published separately in a single volume it might be a novelette. The story of Joseph also serves as a conclusion to the Book of Genesis, showing how faith has evolved since the prehistoric days of Adam and the election of Abraham to our present day, when the Torah was compiled.
In the beginning, Adam and Eve walked and talked with the Lord "face to face" in the Garden of Eden. During those lovely days they could stand before God au naturel and without shame. They were, in their naked vulnerability, the very image of the God who stood revealed before them!
But sin would hide them from God as God became less apparent to them. We're not told how Cain and Noah saw the Lord but he appeared face to face with Abraham and wrestled with Jacob in pitch darkness.
He does not appear to Joseph, Abraham's great grandson, nor does he speak to him. Joseph knows God by dreams, which he correctly interprets. He has become the model of a faithful man for our time; he does not see God's face or hear God's voice but allows the inspirations of God to direct his life.
We can assume he knows the stories of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebecca; and of his parents Jacob and Rachel. Keeping faith must entail respect for received traditions, especially the religious memories of one's family. Before the entertainment industry invaded our living rooms, bedrooms and kitchens, children heard the stories of their parents and grandparents. These traditions were entwined with the helices of their DNA.
But every family has its troubles and Abraham's family is no exception. Joseph's older brothers sold the boy into Egyptian slavery, largely because of his naively telling them about a dream. This is a story of sin, estrangement, mistrust, and reconciliation. It is a story of a man who, despite betrayal, loves his father and his family.
His fidelity to the God of Abraham finally reunites father and son, and establishes Jacob's people in good stead with Egyptian nobility. The long story ends happily.
The Patriarch Joseph serves as a model for the husband of Mary. Like his ancestor, Saint Joseph trusts his dreams, is faithful to his spouse (despite some misgivings), pays close attention to politics, protects his family, goes into Egypt, and returns to the ancient land of Canaan. He does not see God face to face except in Mary's child. Joseph is a just man and a model of Christian discipleship. He hears the Word of God and keeps it, which the Evangelist Matthew defines as fidelity.
The story of Joseph tells us much about keeping faith. It is the right of every child to hear it from their parent.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.