Our readings this Friday draw a parallel between Joseph and Jesus. In the First Reading the brothers of Joseph want to kill him, and in the Gospel through the parable of the Vineyard the Pharisees sought to kill Jesus. Both Joseph and Jesus go through great agony but in the end God’s plans triumph.
Guarding Against Envy
This being Lent, I would like us to reflect on the element of envy and resentment. It is the human sentiment we see unfold in the family story of Joseph and his brothers. The father of “Joseph loved best of all his children” and even made him a beautiful robe with great colors and patterns. The robe was ornate in every way.
The beautiful coat that was meant to be a sign of great affection and favor from the father instead triggered envy and resentment by his siblings. The reading said his brothers “hated him so much that they would not even greet him.” They sought a way to get rid of him once and for all, and their opportunity came when Joseph brought them food in the grazing fields in Dothan. The siblings were burning with resentment because of the love and blessings Joseph enjoyed from his father. They threw him in a dry well with hopes that he would die there; and as an alternative, they sold him to a rival tribe, the Ishmaelites! He still felt as good as dead being sold into slavery.
The Gifts God Gives Us
The image of the beautiful robe or coat is symbolic of the many blessings or favors that different people possess. Some people have been blessed with different talents such as music, organization abilities, leadership, speech, academic success, business acumen, popularity, etc. These are like the beautiful “robe” or coat that God has made for them. Possessing such a robe can sometimes trigger envy and resentment from others. We call this “gift envy”! The brothers of Joseph “hated him so much that they would not even greet him” for reasons that were beyond Joseph’s control.
While we cannot run away from the gifts or blessings God has given us, we are invited to be aware of the resentment they can trigger in the lives of others. Possession of a special “robe” woven by God can be both a blessing and a burden. Hopefully, God guards us from wearing our robe or coat with arrogancy instead of humility. Hopefully, whatever blessings we enjoy from God, we share them with others who may not be blessed in the same way as we do.
A Two-Way Street
Second, we are invited to guard against our own bitterness towards others due to the blessings they enjoy. It is a two-way lane – where we can be both victims of other people’s envy and resentment and be perpetrators of envy and resentment towards others who are blessed differently from us.
As we continue with our Mass, may we express gratitude to God for the many blessings we enjoy in our lives such as talents or successes – the different “robes” God has made for us. May we also ask God for the grace to heal us of any forms of envy, resentment or bitterness. May He teach us charity and how to celebrate the blessings of others.
- Today’s Readings
- Father Fred's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
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