14th Week, Thursday, July 13
Genesis 44:18-21, 23-29; 45:1-5 / Matthew 10:7-15
Joseph reveals Himself: "God sent me here to save lives.”
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When bad things happen to us, how convinced are we that God can bring good out of them? "The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." Psalm 118:22
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Early in his pontificate, Pope John XXIII received in audience a group of rabbis. His simple greeting touched them all: “I am Joseph, your brother.” This friendly posture of the pope opened a new era not only of Jewish-Christian relations but one of positive developments with those of other faiths, a harbinger of things to come in the ecumenical life of the church.
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“I am Joseph", he tells his brothers on their second visit. Only when they do not understand he adds, "l am Joseph whom you sold into Egypt". There is not a word of bitterness, not a reproach. He did test his brothers. He planted his own silver cup in the sack that belonged to Benjamin, his youngest brother, to see how they would react. He made the scene in which he revealed his identity as dramatic as he could. It was a heart-warming experience. The wise man is the mature man who has his feelings in perfect control. This is not only the result of self-mastery learnt in years of self-discipline but by a deep insight into the plan of God. As a high official he has come to master his emotions. He would be political enough to know that even injustice and hurt suffered silently can be a source of strength; but he also realized what he told his brothers: "God sent me before you to preserve your lives... to make sure that your race would have survivors..... he has made me as a father to Pharaoh, Lord of all his household and administrator of the whole land of Egypt" [verses 5 to 81. Let us remember: to them that love God, all things work together unto good [Romans 8-28].
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When Joseph was sold to Egyptians, he was “sent” on the mission of saving his brothers, as he realized years later. He repaid the evil his brothers had done to him with the good of saving them from famine.
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When Jesus sent the twelve, he sent them in the name of God. They had to spread the message of God. "The kingdom of heaven is at hand". What did the people have to do when they heard this? Kingdom of God is where God rules, where he governs, where his will is done on earth as perfectly as it is done in heaven. Here, concretely, God's will is that they accept and listen to his son whom he has sent. The twelve were sent to bring to people God's love. That shows itself very concretely. They have to heal, to raise to life, to cleanse and to cast out devils. This is to be understood physically and spiritually. These are the typical works, the Messiah, it was foretold, would do. The twelve are sent under the providence of God. Only a saint or a novice could set out on a journey or a pilgrimage today without a change of clothes or without a copper coin in his purse.
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Jesus sends his twelve apostles to announce the kingdom of heaven. They have to be detached from possessions, even from people. They are to be poor also in the sense that they must accept the insecurity of not being received well. Perhaps we could retain these words of Jesus today: you received without charge, give without charge: your love, your service, your commitment.
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Prayer
Lord our God, you send us all on the mission of making your kingdom known by the way we live the gospel of Jesus Christ, your Son. Give us a sense of mission, we pray you, and do not let the cares of the day or the weight of possessions keep us from bearing witness that you are our God and that Jesus is the Lord who lives with you and the Holy Spirit for ever. Amen
