Thursday of Week 14 in Ordinary Time (Year A)
Genesis 44:18-21,23-29,45:1-5 | Psalm 104(105):16-21 | Matthew 10:7-15
In today’s reading, Joseph finally reveals himself to the brothers who sold him into slavery.
We too reveal ourselves to everyone around us, whether we know it or not. The way we treat others, our words both loving and judgemental, we basically show our inner selves, as we admit in our weekly Confiteor:
in my thoughts, and in my words,
in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do
Just yesterday, I was at the Church of the Holy Family with my oldest and avidly-atheist friend, who wanted to donate some of his old but otherwise usable shoes to the parish’s thrift shop.
On the spur of the moment, I asked him to wait for me, while I dashed upstairs to say a quick prayer.
To my surprise, he asked to follow me into church. This, coming from the man who asked not to be my best man at my wedding almost 20 years ago, so that he wouldn’t have to set foot in church.
After a few minutes in prayer, with my friend sitting quietly behind me, we repaired to the coffee shop next door for a refresher.
✞ ✞ ✞ ✞ ✞
How time has changed us all, as it mellowed the hatred of Joseph’s brothers and caused them to reflect on the harm they did to their kin.
Is this not a reminder to us all, to reflect on our own relationship with our Creator and our fellow beings? To reexamine our thoughts, our words, our deeds and omissions?
To, perhaps, make time for “coffee with Jesus”, as a fellow choir member providentially shared just this morning?
Amen.