Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin
Maybe the fact that one of my sons is in Chile for eight weeks this summer and my other son will be studying abroad in China this Fall, and the fact that my elderly parents live more than 400 miles away, have something to do with my heartfelt reaction to the very emotional reunion of Joseph and his father, Jacob (Israel), in today’s reading from Genesis. The lectionary readings over the past several days have been taking us through the dramatic story of Joseph’s reconciliation with his brothers, who had sold him into slavery years prior, and reunion with his father who thought he was dead. Today I didn’t need the famous Broadway musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (or a high school adaptation), to visualize this emotional reunion in the final verses of today’s reading: “As soon as Joseph saw him, he flung himself on his neck and wept a long time in his arms.” And his father’s response, “At last I can die, now that I have seen for myself that Joseph is still alive.” Years of grief turned to relief and joy.
Later, near the end of Genesis (50:1) we read of Jacob’s funeral and Joseph’s emotional display of love and grief for his father, “Joseph threw himself on his father’s face and wept over him as he kissed him.” Joy turned to grief; yet, I think, a different kind of grief. They were able to say goodbye this time. And for Jacob first to be able to hold his grown son in his arms and Joseph allow himself to be held and weep in his father’s arms is such a beautiful image. One that perhaps (sadly) we don’t see as much in our culture today.
Jesus also modeled this kind of emotional expression as we recall the shortest verse in the bible, “And Jesus wept” (John 11:35) in response to the death of his friend Lazarus, and the weeping of Lazarus’ sister, Mary. In Luke’s gospel (19:41) we also read of Jesus weeping. This time in lament for Jerusalem. “As he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it”, foreseeing its destruction as they rejected his message of justice and peace. And, lastly, we find in Hebrews (5:7) the author describes Jesus tearfully praying, crying out to God, “In the days when he was in the flesh, he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears….”
So, let us not be ashamed of our tears, a gift from God and healing expression of deep felt emotions – love, grief, sadness, relief, healing, even joy. Thank you, Jesus and Joseph, son of Jacob, for such an example of vulnerability. May God be praised. Amen.
~Eileen Miller