God is not opposed to having His chosen servants suffer. This was true of Joseph, who experienced great hardships before he was used by God to rescue a nation and his family from famine.
It is supremely true for God’s own Son, who suffered for the sins of all humanity.
In today’s lectionary reading we consider Joseph and the Son of God: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032125.cfm.
Reading 1 – Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a
Here is a brief summary Joseph’s story in bullet form.
- Jacob’s Favoritism:
- Jacob (Israel) loved Joseph more than his other sons, primarily because he was the son of his old age, and from his favored wife Rachel.
- He demonstrated this favoritism by giving Joseph a special, ornate robe, which fueled his brothers’ resentment.
- Joseph’s Dreams:
- Joseph had dreams that foretold his future dominance over his brothers and even his parents.
- When he shared these dreams, it intensified their hatred.
- The Brothers’ Plot:
- Driven by jealousy, Joseph’s brothers plotted to kill him when he arrived to check on them while they were shepherding the flocks.
- Reuben attempts to save Joseph, by suggesting they throw him into a pit, intending to come back and rescue him later.
- Judah then suggests they sell Joseph to a passing caravan of Ishmaelite traders instead.
- Joseph Sold into Slavery:
- The brothers sold Joseph for twenty pieces of silver, and he was taken to Egypt.
- They then covered up their crime by bloodying Joseph’s robe and presenting it to Jacob, who was led to believe that a wild animal had killed his son.
Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21
Psalm 105 is a meditation on the character of the Lord, emphasizing His faithfulness in keeping His promises. The psalmist recounts numerous miracles as evidence of God’s consistent character.
The psalmist highlights the story of Joseph to illustrate how God fulfills His promises to His people.
When he summoned famine against the land and cut off every supply of bread,
he had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who had been sold as a slave.
His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron;
until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord kept testing him.
The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free.
He made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions,
to instruct his officials at his pleasure and to teach his elders wisdom. (Psalm 105:16-22)
Joseph summarized God’s faithfulness to the promises He made to Israelits: “Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good,” (Genesis 50:20).
Verse Before the Gospel – John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Gospel – Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46
Jesus faced opposition from religious leaders who, much like Joseph’s brothers, were envious of his abilities. They questioned his authority, thinking, ‘Who is this uneducated Galilean to speak for God and lead people astray from our teachings?
In response, Jesus used parables, aiming to engage their minds and prompt them to examine their own actions. He desired their transformation, that they would turn back to God and embrace him as the one sent by God, rather than remain his adversaries.
The parable of the wicked tenants, who tried to murder the vineyard owner’s son, culminates in the image of the stone rejected by the builders.
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:
‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes’?
“Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces its fruits.
The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone on whom it falls” (Matthew 21:42-44).
Joseph suffered abuse and enslavement at the hands of his brothers. Jesus, though sinless, was condemned by religious authorities and crucified.
In both instances, God’s divine purpose was fulfilled. Joseph’s suffering led to the salvation of a nation and Jesus’s sacrifice brought salvation to the world.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed the events leading to Jacob’s family leaving Laban and returning to Canaan in Genesis 30.
Real Voices 