Pentecost 7C

Genesis 45:1-15

¹ Then 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. ² And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.

³ 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.

⁴ 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.
⁵ And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. ⁶ 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. ⁷ God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. ⁸ 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.

⁹ 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. ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ 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.'"

¹² "And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. ¹³ 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." ¹⁴ Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck.

¹⁵ And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.

Epiphany 7

This long Epiphany season will conclude next week with Transfiguration. And then? Ash Wednesday followed by six Sundays in (but not of) Lent.

This week I'll refer you to the exceptional commentary on the Joseph narrative by James Howell on his lectionary blog. I read Pastor Howell's blog most weeks, and I often find helpful ideas, but this one is extraordinary.


Joseph Forgiveness God Redemption Resurrection

The story of Jacob's son Joseph spans Genesis 37 through 50. You'll notice some backtracking and repetition because Genesis was compiled from different separate sources.

Joseph's brothers had intended serious harm (as in killing him) to Joseph, but Joseph was wise enough to recognize the action of God's Spirit in redeeming an incredibly bad situation. Joseph had enough insight, compassion, and life experience to forgive his brothers. In today's reading, and at the end of Genesis, chapter 50, Joseph credits God.

In spite of us, in spite of other people, in spite of circumstances, God heals, mends, renews, resurrects. God even redeems (literally takes back, buys back) death into new life!


Living in Empire

Among other perspectives, the story of Joseph and his brothers is about living well and fruitfully under empire—in this case Egypt.

It's impossible to escape the influence of empires, whether they're national governments (Babylon, Persia, Rome, Spain, Great Britain) or multinational corporations (Berkshire Hathaway, Eli Lilly, Walmart, Nestlé…). We need to find ways to live and sometimes thrive whether by resistance or even a degree of cooperation.

With famine all around, Jacob's family had no choice but to go to a place where crops would grow so they could be fed. At the time, Egypt was the breadbasket of the world. Until a couple of weeks ago, the USA often was called the breadbasket of the world. Ukraine has been known as the breadbasket of Europe. What does that terminology mean to you?

We may not need to leave our current city or place of residence, but political, commercial – and cultural! – empires still pursue us. What prayerful actions can we take to help change the status quo and even influence what looks like an (almost) inevitable future?

Through Christ God reconciled us to himself
and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:18