- This event has passed.
Vigils Reading – Weekday
August 16, 2022
OT-GEN95
08.18.22
A Commentary on the Book of Genesis by St John Chrysostom [1]
Joseph’s father believed what the brothers told him – that Joseph was alive and was ruler in Egypt. He said: “It is wonderful news for me that my son Joseph is alive. I will go and se him before I die. So let us hasten now so that I may savor something of our meeting before I die. Once I have the good fortune to meet him and have the consummation of joy, I shall then bring my life to a close.” Without delay the good man took to the road, showing all haste and anxiety to see the object of his desire and gaze upon him , dead for many years, as he thought, and now made king of Egypt. “
Arriving at the Oath Well, By way of offering prayers of thanksgiving, he offered a sacrifice to the God of his father Isaac. On hearing this, let us learn in whatever we do, whether embarking on some project or beginning a journey, first of all to offer a sacrifice to the Lord in prayer and, by calling on his help to address the matter at hand, thus also imitate those good people’s godliness. Because he took the initiative in showing his own right attitude in thanksgiving, at once he felt the influence of grace from on high. I mean, because he had in view the length of the journey and kept in mind his advanced age, he was afraid that death might come upon him before the meeting and rob him of the sight of his son, so he offered prayers to God to grant him life enough to enable him to enjoy the final satisfaction.
Observe, however, how the good God reassures the good man. The text goes on, remember: “God spoke to Israel in a vision by night, “Jacob, Jacob, I am the God of your fathers. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt. I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down with you, and I will bring you back again. Joseph’s hands will close your eyes in death.” So quite happy and free from all concern, he took to the road.
Consider at this point, I ask you, with what cheerfulness the old man takes the journey, being reassured by God’s promise. Jacob’s company traveling to Egypt numbered sixty-six persons. Joseph and his sons born to him numbered nine; so the total including Joseph numbered seventy=five. Why did Sacred Scripture indicate the number to us precisely? So that we might be in a position to know how God’s prediction took effect that said: “I will make you into a great nation there.” You see, from these seventy-five persons, the people of Israel grew into six hundred thousand. You notice how it was not idly or to no purpose that it taught us the number of those that went down to Egypt but for us to know from how few that great number came and not to lose confidence in God’s promise and the fact that his wishes can never fail, no matter how many people try their utmost.
“On learning of his father’s arrival in Egypt, Joseph harnessed his chariot and went out to meet his father; catching sight of him, he fell on his neck and wept a flood of tears.” You see, immediately there came to his mind what he himself has suffered, what his father had endured on his account. And he thought of the great length of time that had elapsed. and the fact that, contrary to all expectation, he saw his father and his father set eyes on his son. I have attained the object of my desire, he is saying: I am ready for death.
[1] The Fathers of the Church – St John Chrysostom – Homilies on Genesis – vol. 3 – Catholic University Press – Washington DC – 1992 – pg 245