Friday of 14th week, July 13, 2007

Scripture: Genesis 46:1-7,28-30. Psalm 37:3-4,18-19,27-28, 39-40. Matthew
10:16-23. Lectionary #387:

What a great experience Jacob had upon learning that Joseph, his beloved
son, was alive. Not only that, he was the great provider for the
brothers--eleven of them, who needed sustenance and help. He was second in
importance to the Pharao. What a success story. Now Jacob could rest in
peace and enjoy the family get-together--all twelve of his sons who would
receive his blessing in a remarkable ritual given in Genesis. It differed
from his own blessing which he received from Isaac, his father, at the
expense of his brother Esau. It is Joseph who comes in a chariot to Goshen
to bring his father to Egypt and to help the rest of the family. The
following line says it all, "As soon as he saw Jacob, he flung himself on
his neck and wept a long time in his arms." This is one of the most
consoling and healing experiences a person can have with a parent, a
friend, a lover. In a way, it is similar to the story Jesus has given us
about the great magnanimity of the father to his younger son after he had
squandered his inheritance and wasted some of his youth. Jesus told it in
a parable, Joseph and Jacob lived it out in a real human experience--the
tears, the embrace, the love. Verse 40 of our Psalm is appropriate for
the reading:"The salvation of the just is from the Lord;; he is their
refuge in times of distress. And the Lord helps them and delivers them; he
drives them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in
him." In turning to the Gospel message, we learn that those who follow the
love commandments of God and Jesus will often be persecuted, and even be
martyred. We know that eleven of the apostles were martyred after Jesus
had died and risen from the dead. Finding how to love is important, and
learning how to love God even demands more of love. It is a sacrificial
love and completing love with God which leads to God embracing us and
drying our tears. We all are in the palm of God's hand and in the arms of
God's embrace. Amen.