Almighty
God, as you know, today is my last Sunday serving as a priest at St. Francis.
Prayer is always a fitting response in times of transition, so what better way
to spend this final time in the pulpit than in prayer? Today's reading from
Genesis isn't quite about a departure, but rather a reunion between Joseph and
his brothers who assumed that he was dead. Now, Lord, I know some of us
complain about our families, but you sure did have your work cut out for you
with this one. Those brothers wanted to kill Joseph, but Reuben convinces them
to instead sell him into slavery. Well, as you would have it, Joseph rose
through the ranks of Pharaoh's courts and became his right-hand man. When there
was a famine in the land, and Joseph had instructed Pharaoh to build up a stock
of extra food, his brothers journey from Canaan. Instead of telling his
brothers who he is, he hides his identity and accuses them of being spies. As
we heard today, Joseph reveals himself to his brothers and the family rejoices
for being brought back together. That day, the emotions ran deep.
