Joseph’s life contains everything needed for a great novel! Palace intrigue and betrayal are interwoven with the power of forgiveness and love. And like every great story the good guys win!
Daddy Love
Joseph’s childhood must have been filled with an abundance of daddy love. As human beings we all hold in our hearts a deep desire for this kind of love, something I write about in my blog post titled Father as Provider and Protector. Joseph was the favorite son of his father Israel and he undoubtedly experienced an abundance of love from him. Joseph was also the first son of Israel’s favorite wife Rachel. I can only imagine that Israel saw Rachel in the eyes of this little boy. I can picture Joseph following his dad around trying to be just like daddy. Yet, Joseph also experienced pain during his life.
Joseph’s childhood wounds, wounds that would leave many of us emotionally and spiritually injured for an entire lifetime, were significant. His mother Rachel died while giving birth to his only full brother Benjamin and all of his older half-brothers held intense jealousy towards him. It also seems rather safe to assume that his aunt/step-mother Leah wasn’t too fond of him either. Yet, somehow Joseph was able to overcome his heartaches and rise above.
Of course, there is only one way anyone can overcome such pain – through the healing balm of God’s fatherly love. A love that Joseph learned through the tender relationship he enjoyed with his father Israel. Out of this love wisdom was born in Joseph, a wisdom he would carry in his heart for decades. Joseph lived to be 110 years old.
Joseph The Dreamer
We know Joseph’s story. His older half-brothers sold this little dreamer to the Ishmaelites, an act that lead him into Egyptian slavery. In Egypt Joseph escaped many snares designed to entrap him, yet he remained faithful to God – turning to God in all things. Through all his trials in Egypt (20 years), Joseph remained steadfast in his faith. Eventually Joseph forgave his brothers and he saved his people from starvation and certain death. In the end, it was Joseph’s bones the Israelites carried with them when Moses led them out of Egypt. (Exodus 13:19)
Pondering the fruit produced by Joseph’s deep reliance upon God calls us to visit our own role in God’s plan for humanity. Joseph had no idea how God was using him, all he knew was that he needed to turn to God in all things. Likewise, God will work through us when we surrender and turn to him in all things
Father Love
While there is much we can take away from Joseph’s story, I think looking at the root of his faith is the golden thread that can help most of us today. This root is God’s love – a love that Joseph learned from his earthly father Israel. Fortunately, Joseph had a father who loved him and shared his love of God with him. If you have been blessed with such an earthy father you have certainly benefited in ways beyond your knowing.
However, what if your earthly father didn’t share God’s love with you? Or, what if you experienced heartache and pain in your relationship with your father? What if your father wasn’t around? What if your father was abusive? Many people do not experience fatherly love like Joseph. I for one experienced significant pain in my relationship with my earthy father. God rest his soul – my father suffered significant pain and torment in his life. Sadly, my father’s pain and torment severely limited his ability to love me and my brothers the way our hearts yearned for.
God’s Fatherly Love
Children yearn for the love of their father (and their mother); however, we live in a world full of heartache and many fathers cannot love their children as God originally intended. The family is under attack and parenthood stands at the front line. Yet, God’s Fatherly love has the power to bring us through any trial or pain – even when it is the pain experienced from the lack of our father’s love.
Our fathers can only give us what they have received. Unfortunately, many men do not receive fatherly love themselves and too many fathers see God as a distant unattainable father. However, God has the power to heal whatever wounds we carry in our heart, especially wounds that frustrate our attempts to participate in his plan for our lives.
Just as God’s love healed the wounds in Joseph’s heart; including the pain of the loss of his mother, the heartache experienced at the hands of brothers, the hurts suffered in Egypt – God’s love can heal our hearts too. By inviting forgiveness and acceptance in, like Joseph did, we open the door to greater love in our lives. This door brings forth peace of heart. Once our hearts are at peace we become free to share greater love with our children, our grandchildren, and the world.
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11 (NABRE)
Holding Jesus Christ
Unlike Joseph we now have Jesus Christ, the corner stone, living inside of us! Making it easier for us to find our way towards God’s loving embrace. God has given us his Son, offering us an inheritance beyond all measure – an inheritance that includes a vineyard to cultivate. A vineyard for us to cultivate the fruits of joy, hope, forgiveness and of love. However, this vineyard is a lease…
Yes, God has leased to us the most beautiful of all vineyards with the condition that we produce its rightful fruits. We are called to participate in God’s plan and, in return, we will receive his blessings. Let us continue to pray, fast and offer almsgiving during this Lenten season so that we continue to grow in our faith and relationship with God. Let’s be like Joseph and surrender to God, placing all our trust in him. I believe God will work miracles in my family, just like he did for Joseph, and I believe he will do the same for you and yours.
Our Prayer Community
A few weeks ago our little prayer community was born. In this space we share our pain and we offer prayers for another. Perhaps you would like to practice Lectio Divina on today’s scripture, or a favorite scripture of yours, for our little prayer community. This is what I am going to do for us this week.
If you would like to add your prayer request so that we can all pray for you please do so below. If you would like to privately email me your prayer request I invite you to do so.
God bless all of you. See you next week Friday – Carolyn
God the Father – hold us in your Fatherly embrace.
God the Son – continue to help our hearts heal and forgive.
God the Holy Spirit – embrace us in your divine love.
Today’s Readings: Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a; Psalm 105; Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46
