Friday of the Second Week of Lent
Jealousy can destroy. Jealousy within families is old, at least as old as the book of Genesis. We know the familiar story of Cain and Abel and how jealousy led Cain to kill his own brother. Maybe you know a personal story of jealousy destroying family bonds and connection. Today we read another familiar Old Testament story of sibling jealousy, the story of Joseph and his brothers. I invite you to reflect with me on this timeless story.
You may know the story, maybe even the Broadway play, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Briefly, Joseph is the youngest and favorite of all his father’s sons. This is evident to the older brothers and one day they plot to kill him. They call him the “man of dreams” because he has shared his dreams (literal dreams) with them and they don’t like what his dreams seem to be revealing (adding to their disdain of him). One of the brothers has mercy on him and convinces the rest not to kill him out right; they eventually sell him into slavery and lie to their father about it, thinking that will be the end of the story. But, of course, it’s not. We learn later in Genesis that while still a slave Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams, impressing him so much with his wisdom that he is put in charge of the palace and all the land of Egypt. Eventually he uses his position of power to save his family from famine, and he and his brothers are reconciled.
This “man of dreams” is raised up from betrayal (and almost murder) by his brothers, from a position of slavery with no power to great power under Pharaoh. His gift of dreams and dream interpretation that his brothers reviled, eventually saved him and his family. He could have abused his power to gain revenge on his brothers, but instead he showed compassion and reconciled with them.
In the gospel reading from Matthew we hear of a similar theme in the Parable of the Tenants: “This is the heir; let us kill him,” likely referencing Jesus’ own betrayal and murder. And we are given the reminder, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone….”
Am I aware of my own jealousy? How does it bring division within my family? If I have been rejected, have I chosen reconciliation over revenge? Am I using my God-given gifts and talents? Or am I ignoring, squashing, not fully developing and using those gifts out of fear of others’ jealousy?
May Joseph’s story give us pause to reflect on the influence of jealousy in our lives this Lent. Let us pray for the grace to choose reconciliation where needed, looking toward Easter and the celebration of the “Cornerstone” that had been rejected. “By the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes.” (Matthew 21:42b)
—Eileen Miller