Joseph and Jesus: Daily Mass Homily--Thursday, July 9th, 2015

(Listen to this homily here).

            For the past couple of days we have been hearing the great story about Joseph from the last few chapters of Genesis.  This is a well known story which has even inspired a musical: Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat.

            And it is a cool story.  Joseph’s brothers, in a fit of jealousy, sold him into slavery.  He went from slavery, to prison and in dramatic fashion became second to Pharaoh.  Fittingly, the end of the story (which we heard this morning) sees Joseph’s brothers begging him for food, not knowing it was their long forgotten brother.

            Yet have you ever thought of how Joseph—the person—points to Jesus?  A couple days ago I spoke about types in the Old Testament—people, events or things that point to the New Testament, especially Jesus.  Joseph points to Jesus in many ways.

            Both were thirty when they began their public work.

            Both were arrested as innocent men and condemned.

            Both were in fact rulers—Joseph serving under Pharaoh and Jesus serving alongside God the Father.

            And a key similarity comes in what Joseph told his sorrowful brothers: “But now do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here.  It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you.”  Joseph was brought to Egypt because of his brothers’ betrayal.  So too, Jesus came to earth as a result of our sins.  Jesus says the same thing as Joseph!  “But now do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here.  It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you.”

            Finally, Jesus tells his disciples today, “Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.”  Jesus’ death and resurrection cost us nothing.  So, too, we must bring many more to Jesus to receive this great gift!