Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Gospel Text for Sunday, August 14th, 2011

Genesis 45:1-15

Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, "Send everyone away from me." So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. 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 plowing nor harvest. 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; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry 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 delay. You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. I will provide for you there-- since there are five more years of famine to come-- so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.' And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt, and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here." Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.

2 comments:

  1. “do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you ___ .” How much I want to believe these words. Strongly do I affirm them to others, yet must battle to claim them for myself. Beset as I am by mistakes, by actions that arise from my own need rather than that of the other, by hasty decisions, and more, I desperately need the promise that God intends and works for good whatever comes from my hand. This story assures me of this. Frequent whispers from the Father tell me this. The good will of friends and of victims of my mistakes confirm this. Yet, the struggle within goes on. There is a root of pride here: self wanting to not come under accusation, not wanting to be at fault, wishing that others see only good from me. So I confess my pride, quiet my turbulent soul, again, and look into the face of the One who works everything for the good of those who love him.

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  2. What a week this has been! I leave the link to the sermon I preached on this text on Sunday. http://www.saintbarnabas.org/images/sitecontent/sermons/110814%20da.mp3

    I welcome your comments. Peace.

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