On the third day Joseph said to them, ‘Do this and you will live, for I fear God: if you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here where you are imprisoned. The rest of you shall go and carry grain for the famine of your households, and bring your youngest brother to me. Thus your words will be verified, and you shall not die.’ And they agreed to do so. They said to one another, ‘Alas, we are paying the penalty for what we did to our brother; we saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this anguish has come upon us.’ Then Reuben answered them, ‘Did I not tell you not to wrong the boy? But you would not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.’ They did not know that Joseph understood them, since he spoke with them through an interpreter. He turned away from them and wept; then he returned and spoke to them. And he picked out Simeon and had him bound before their eyes. Joseph then gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return every man’s money to his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. This was done for them.
"…we saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen."
Why does it take us so long to acknowledge our hard-heartedness? Will it always take some catastrophic consequence (drought, famine, imminent loss of life) to wake us up to our recurring ignorance of the cries of the needy? Even when the cause of the needy is taken up by others, we who have the power choose not to hear their call for compassion, mercy and justice.
And still, God reaches out and provides for us. Look at how Joseph, the victim of his brothers' jealousy and violence, continues to give them what they need--grain for the life of their people at no cost to them. Even as they fear the consequences of their actions, they are, in fact, protected from their anticipated consequences and taken care of. God never stops caring for God's creation, never stops loving what s/he has made, always promotes life.
How is it that when we are freely given gifts of life, we live in fear of loss? What is it about we human beings that blinds us to the truth that we all are made in the image of God? Where in our lives are we turning away from the one who appeals to our compassion and mercy? Is my heart soft and open or do I detect a measure of protective hardness there?
Prayer:
God of compassion, God of love, help me to trust in your never-failing goodness toward me and all that you have made. Guard my heart against all fear and prejudice, and give me grace to hear and respond to the needs of others, for the sake of your love. Amen.
The readings for Wednesday of Lent II are Psalm 72, Genesis 42.18-28, 1 Cor 5.9-6.8, Mark 4.1-20, and can be found at www.satucket.com/lectionary/2lent2.htm.
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