The prank of Joseph is playing itself out and his own father is now becoming the victim of his deceitfulness. This shows us what happens when we engage in the practice of vengeance - even if it is done as a humorous way to teach a lesson.
It is also interesting that Joseph speaks of divination as a normal practice in the usage of his silver cup in verses 5 and 15. We are unclear if he is speaking of his actual practice or of a practice that they would assume he uses and he is simply playing into a stereotype for his own benefit. Later, we see that Deuteronomy outlaws this practice declaring that God finds the practitioner abhorrent.
As the story unfolds, Judah is the one to intervene. He puts his own life on the line and anguishes over how this would hurt his father Jacob. Judah doesn't even seem bothered by the idea that his own father prefers his younger half-brother Benjamin to him. Or he is at least resigned to it.
I believe that Judah is the one taking responsibility because he knows firsthand what it is like to outlive his sons. In chapter 38, we see that his two oldest boys, Er and Onan die. In his grief, Judah fails to live up to his family duty so we can see how devastating this must have been for him.
As we fast forward to the time of Jesus, we're not sure what happens to his earthly father, Joseph. We do know that John the Baptist who was a cousin to Jesus and possibly a mentor of sorts, dies violently at the hands of the government. When they report this troublesome news to Jesus, Matthew 14:13 tells us, "Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself."
Grief and the loss of loved ones is difficult for people even under the best of circumstances. It impacts each of us in our own way. I try to remind people that we each handle grief a little differently. There is no real timetable for "getting over it."
As we think about those who may possibly suffer from grief, like Jacob in today's reading, may we try to adopt the stance of Judah and do what we can to alleviate it.
It is also interesting that Joseph speaks of divination as a normal practice in the usage of his silver cup in verses 5 and 15. We are unclear if he is speaking of his actual practice or of a practice that they would assume he uses and he is simply playing into a stereotype for his own benefit. Later, we see that Deuteronomy outlaws this practice declaring that God finds the practitioner abhorrent.
As the story unfolds, Judah is the one to intervene. He puts his own life on the line and anguishes over how this would hurt his father Jacob. Judah doesn't even seem bothered by the idea that his own father prefers his younger half-brother Benjamin to him. Or he is at least resigned to it.
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Sometimes we are frustrated with those we love.
But in the end, we do what we can to help each other.
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I believe that Judah is the one taking responsibility because he knows firsthand what it is like to outlive his sons. In chapter 38, we see that his two oldest boys, Er and Onan die. In his grief, Judah fails to live up to his family duty so we can see how devastating this must have been for him.
As we fast forward to the time of Jesus, we're not sure what happens to his earthly father, Joseph. We do know that John the Baptist who was a cousin to Jesus and possibly a mentor of sorts, dies violently at the hands of the government. When they report this troublesome news to Jesus, Matthew 14:13 tells us, "Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself."
Grief and the loss of loved ones is difficult for people even under the best of circumstances. It impacts each of us in our own way. I try to remind people that we each handle grief a little differently. There is no real timetable for "getting over it."
As we think about those who may possibly suffer from grief, like Jacob in today's reading, may we try to adopt the stance of Judah and do what we can to alleviate it.
Lord, make me an instrument of
your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O
Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Prayer by St. Francis of Assisi, 13th Century
Photo of Sheryl & David Powers, taken August 5, 2017 near Ithaca, New York by the author.
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