Vigils Reading

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Vigils Reading

August 3, 2022

 

 

A Commentary on the Book of Genesis by St John Chrysostom  [1]

 

You notice that when Joseph encountered troubles he had no sense of distress; instead the creative wisdom of God transformed all his distress. Virtue, wherever you cast it, reveals its characteristic power, be it in servitude, in prison, in distress or in prosperity. So since, even when cast into prison, he won over the chief jailer and received from him control of everything there.

Joseph rightly interpreted the dreams of the cupbearer of the king and the chief baker. He asked only that they remember him when they have been delivered from prison. “Remember me, and have me taken out of this dungeon”. Hearing this let us learn, when we fall foul, not to be bent on railing against those who have offended us, but simply to demonstrate our innocence meekly and mildly and to imitate this remarkable man in that, though being in difficulties, he did not bring himself to blame others. Far from hankering for the esteem of mortals, he was content with favor from on high and wanted for an admirer of his conduct only that God on high. Hence, as he kept silence and endeavored to conceal everything, the loving Lord brought him to wonderful prominence.

Even after this, two years passed before the cupbearer recounted to the king what had happened in prison and the wonderful man who had rightly interpreted his dream. On hearing this, the king sent for Joseph and released him from the dungeon. See how divine providence had arranged all things so that Pharaoh’s cupbearer and chief  baker should be imprisoned there at the same time and should come to know the man’s wisdom through his interpretation of dreams and should bring him forward now before the Pharaoh. Joseph replies to the king: “Don’t suspect that I utter anything of myself or interpret them by human wisdom. There is no way of coming to knowledge of them without revelation from on high. So be aware that without God, it is not possible for me to give you a reply”.

At this stage Pharaoh was instrumental in the fulfillment of the dream Joseph had when living at his father’s house. Whereas he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams Pharaoh unwittingly brought Joseph’s dream to pass. Pharaoh realized that these things became clear to him through a revelation from on high. He then says: “Since God has revealed all this to you, there is no person more discerning than you. You shall therefore be in charge of my household and all the people shall obey your words.” See how all of a sudden the prisoner is made king of the whole of Egypt. Do you see how important it is to bear trials thankfully? Hence Paul also said: “Distress promotes endurance, endurance promotes character, character promotes hope and hope does not disappoint.”

The text tells us that Joseph was thirty years old at this time. Far from idly considering that there is merely reference here to his age, let us learn that there is no excuse for anyone to neglect virtue nor any grounds for claiming the pretext of youth when virtue needs to be demonstrated. He had grace from on high to strengthen him.

After hearing this, let us never despair in the midst of distress nor become frustrated by following by following our own reasoning. Rather, let us give evidence of sound endurance and be buoyed up by hope, secure in the knowledge of our Lord’s resourcefulness and the fact that, instead of ignoring us and abandoning us to the experience of troubles, he wants to crown us with a resplendent garland for our struggles. It is for this that all holy people have been distinguished. Hence the apostle also said: “It is through great distress that we must enter the kingdom of God.” Christ himself said to the disciples, “In the world you will have distress.” So let us not be upset at the thought of distress, but rather listen to Paul’s statement that “those who wish to live religiously in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”  This, on fact, is what faith is, when we do not rely on our bodily eyes alone but imagine with the eyes of the mind things that are not visible.

Let us really give heed to this and nobly withstand the troubles that beset us, giving thanks to the loving God for everything and waiting for his recompense from him. May it be the good fortune of all of us to attain this, thanks to the grace and loving kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[1] The Fathers of the Church – vol/ 87 – St John Chrysostom – Homilies on Genesis – vol. 3 – Catholic University Press – Washington DC – 1992 – pg 212

 

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August 3, 2022
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