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solve the momentary problem, as do Joseph˅s brothers. It is only after acquiring that for which they
wished; that they realize their mistakes and the emptiness and futility of what they have done. They
soon learn that what they have rejected; the ˈ
cornerstone
ˉ will indeed rise up and become the
foundation of eternal life and redemption.
Joseph˅s brothers try to take his coat and succeed in wresting it away from him. We too try to use
our egos to make ourselves bigger than God, not realizing that Joseph is still Joseph, with or with-
out his coat and God is still God whether we acknowledge it or not.
Joseph˅s brothers take the coat and dip it in goat˅s blood, after they have taken him out of the city
and placed him into a dry well; then they sell him into slavery. The images here immediately strike
up our memories as we remember the Lamb of God whose blood was shed for us, outside the city
of Jerusalem and for whom the soldiers cast lots for his torn garment robe (symbolizing the torn
body of Jesus that ultimately could not be desecrated as his soul lived on through his people).
Joseph keeps faith and maintains his steadfast belief in his own connection to God, through his
dreams and visions which foretell of his rebirth and ascension to greatness. He realizes this when
he becomes the Pharaoh˅s right hand man and chooses to have pity and forgive his brothers. Jesus
does the same thing as he sheds his blood for us as the lamb that is sacrificed only to rise to as-
cension to the right hand of the Father where he sits forgiving our sins and allowing our humanity to
show his greatness.
Prayer
Joseph you have showed us how to listen to God˅s ˈ
word
ˉ in all the ways that God can speak to
us, if we but pay attention and listen to our waking and sleeping thoughts. God, your love knows no
bounds and even though we reject you, you still want us in your house at your table. Please help
me be worthy of the honor that you have bestowed upon me and to not reject your calling, I pray in
your son˅s name. Amen.
_______
Bill Mahoney
HF Parishioner & Member of the Jim/Joanne Hawkins Faith-Sharing Group