Friday of the Second Week of Lent
(Genesis
37:3-4.12-13a.17b-28a; Matthew 21:33-43.45-46)
Parents of drug addicts
sometimes tell the sad story of how they had to lock their doors on their
addicted children. After repeated instances
of having their household treasures stolen to support a drug habit, they said,
“Enough is enough,” and refused their troubled children entry into their
homes. In today’s reading from Genesis
we hear the story of Joseph’s brothers treating him with even greater disdain
than some drug addicts manifest toward their parents.
Not all his brothers
conspire to kill Joseph. Rueben, the
eldest of the lot, suggests that they hold him prisoner while he figures out
how to send him home safely. Another
brother, Judah, seems to have a similar sentiment, but his suggestion to sell
Joseph to Ishmaelite traders may just be a way to turn a profit. In sum, the motive of all the brothers, save
Rueben, is treachery. They exemplify the
dark side of humanity in crying need of renewal.
We are coming to the
middle of Lent. Hopefully, we have
noticed by now that our motives are sometimes not just mixed but can be perverse. Perhaps we dislike seeing friends and family
members receiving credit. Perhaps we show
cruelty to people when we know that we can get away with it. Now is the time to repent of this
wrongfulness and to beg God’s grace.
