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Vigils Reading – Weekday
August 18, 2022
OT-GEN96
08.18.22
Jacob Blesses the sons of Joseph – by St John CHrysostom [1]
Joseph realized that his father was ailing, that the hour of his demise was at hand. He took his two sons and went to Jacob. Jacob was anxious to bless these two sons of Joseph. But instead of blessing the elder son first, Jacob changed his hands to give precedence to the younger, putting Ephraim ahead of Manasses. Do you see Jacob’s insight and, at the same time, his humility? His insight unforeseeing with the eyes of faith and so giving precedence to Ephraim ahead of Manasses, and on the other hand his humility in making no mention of his own virtue but instead invoking a blessing on the basis of the satisfaction given by his forbearers and the kindnesses done to him. Don’t think he is saying that it is just by chance or through ignorance that I have done this. I am aware of what I have done, and because I foresee later developments I blessed him as I did. You see. If Manasses had pride of place from nature, still the younger son will be greater.” This is what prophecy is like, after all. Just as the eyes of the body can form an image of nothing beyond visible things, so the eyes of faith do not see visible things but form an image of things that are due to happen generations later.
We recommend to you, dearly beloved, to imitate this good man by bequeathing to your children such legacies as can never sustain damage from anyone. Such a treasure is incorruptible. It is not prey to human conspiracy nor can it be diminished by any other thing. Instead it lasts forever; after all, it is spiritual and not subject to human conspiracies. On the contrary, it will prepare them for everlasting dwellings.
Let us therefore not be anxious t0 amass money and bequeath it to your children. Rather, let us teach them virtue and call down blessings from God on them. Let us therefore teach our children to prefer virtue to everything else and give no importance to material wealth.
[1] The Fathers of the Church – St John Chrysostom – Homilies on Genesis – vol. 3 – Catholic University Press – Washington DC = 1992 = pg 257