Third Sunday in Lent (2)

 

Genesis 45:1-15 

Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. 

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping.  But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

“So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt. Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay. You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have. I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’

 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you. Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”

Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping.  And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.

The story of Joseph (son of Jacob), a portion of which is written here, is one of the readings for this day in Lent.  It is certainly one of my favourite stories from the Bible and has been since my early days of Sunday School.  It stirs images of forgiveness, shame, practical jokes, bullying, and even grown men weeping.  I have seen the play, the movie, even read the Book, and perhaps experienced many of the emotions felt by the brothers, Joseph and of course, Jacob.  But I ask, what does that have to do with Lent?

Lent for me is a time of family.  In our house, family get togethers were planned, a few birthdays, and even some ski vacations often happened during Lent. This was more due to the climatic season, rather than the liturgical season.  In our extended family there were sad times as well.  Several of my family and friends passed during the Lenten season.  What made Lent so pronounced this year however, was the realization how much time we have been alone and separated from our family, children, grandchildren, and friends primarily due to this Co-VID thing. Maybe it isn’t a famine in terms of food but certainly a famine with isolation, loneliness, separation and fear. This year it seemed intolerable.  One can imagine that Joseph too missed his family as well.  It turned out that God had a plan to reunite Joseph and his family. The reading tells us that. 

An additional verse struck me as profound in the reading.  Joseph forgave his brothers by telling them not to feel bad for selling him, but that the Lord had seen fit to send Joseph on ahead to prepare for the famine.  This is working in God’s time or as my arm band says “Wait for the Lord”.

- Michael Larsen