I got tired of the "blah" feeling of my blog layout, so I've played around with it a little bit. Please let me know if you like the new style. On to new topics.
I got a call from Deacon Carl Wellsbacher from St. Anne's today. I had sent a letter to Father Ware congratulating him on his appointment as administrator of the parish, giving him words of encouragement, and offering my help in any pastoral function he saw fit to use me in. So what assignment was available? Taking our Lord to the convalescent hospitals on Sundays and filling in for others who do the same on the other days when they can't make it for some reason. It's not a "slam dunk" though. Deacon Carl is sending me some sort of "application" I have to fill out so Father Ware can determine if I have what it takes to carry out this important ministry. Then I will have to have an interview with the administrators of the hospitals I will be visiting to get "clearance" and a "name badge" to allow me access to the areas of the hospitals I will need to go to. I'm getting excited. More on this later!
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Gn 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24aWhen hunger came to be felt throughout the land of Egypt and the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, Pharaoh directed all the Egyptians to go to Joseph and do whatever he told them. When the famine had spread throughout the land, Joseph opened all the cities that had grain and rationed it to the Egyptians, since the famine had gripped the land of Egypt. In fact, all the world came to Joseph to obtain rations of grain, for famine had gripped the whole world.
The sons of Israel were among those who came to procure rations.
It was Joseph, as governor of the country, who dispensed the rations to all the people. When Joseph's brothers came and knelt down before him with their faces to the ground, he recognized them as soon as he saw them. But Joseph concealed his own identity from themand spoke sternly to them.
With that, he locked them up in the guardhouse for three days.
On the third day Joseph said to his brothers: "Do this, and you shall live; for I am a God-fearing man. If you have been honest, only one of your brothers need be confined in this prison, while the rest of you may go and take home provisions for your starving families. But you must come back to me with your youngest brother. Your words will thus be verified, and you will not die. "To this they agreed. To one another, however, they said: "Alas, we are being punished because of our brother. We saw the anguish of his heart when he pleaded with us, yet we paid no heed; that is why this anguish has now come upon us. "Reuben broke in, "Did I not tell you not to do wrong to the boy? But you would not listen! Now comes the reckoning for his blood. "The brothers did not know, of course, that Joseph understood what they said, since he spoke with them through an interpreter. But turning away from them, he wept.
Mt 10:1-7Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus.
Jesus sent out these Twelve after instructing them thus,"Do not go into pagan territory or enter a Samaritan town.Go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.As you go, make this proclamation: 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"
Today’s readings focus on the themes of forgiveness, mercy, and healing. I was struck by the story of Joseph – although just a small portion here – the entire story, (as you will remember I read all of it again last night!) is one of trust and faith and incredible forgiveness. The connection of the readings is the need to forgive and have mercy if we are to be forgiven and be shown mercy. Only then, will we be able to experience healing.
The first reading tells the story of Joseph – we join the story after Joseph has endured punishment and ill treatment but he is now in a place of power and privilege. Joseph uses that power and privilege wisely and even as he recognizes his brothers who sold him into slavery, he does not seek retribution. He definitely plays them a bit and allows them to squirm with the consequences of their actions. The last line of this section is most telling: . . .but turning away from them, he wept.
Joseph is moved by seeing his brothers again and in a later section has a tearful reunion. Throughout his ordeals, Joseph receives the grace of God in numerous ways even as a prisoner. His gift of being able to interpret dreams provides him opportunities beyond compare. This story is so full of hope and “happy endings.” It affirms the grace and mercy of God and the importance of forgiveness. It also affirms that with faith and doing the “right thing,” untold wonderful outcomes can be expected. Perhaps not always in ways we understand but always in ways as they should be.
We are reminded that the plans of the Lord stand forever but our plans may be foiled. "People plan and God laughs!" Certainly, we have the opportunities to make choices and decisions. If those choices are true to ourselves and our relationship with God, we can’t go wrong. If our choices are contrary to God's plan and we have a loving relationship with Him, He will gently (and sometimes not so gently) guide us back to the right decision.
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