The Ear of Your Heart

~~~Memorial of Saint Benedict ~~~

 

~~~ Genesis 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5 ~~ Psalm 105 ~~ Matthew 10:7-15 ~~~

 

Remember the marvels the Lord has done.

 

The beautiful story of Joseph continues in the readings today.

Joseph could no longer control himself...

the familial love he had for his brothers and his father poured out of his heart.

The desire to be reunited with his father brought him great joy.

He was eager to once again embrace his elderly father.

 

When Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers they are speechless.

They cannot begin to imagine how this brother whom they had  grossly mistreated

could possibly find mercy in his heart for them.

 

To me this is a wonderful example to how God

can turn all things into something good.

It took many years before Joseph

was able to use his position to save his family.

But it did come to pass;

he was able to save his family and reconcile with his brothers.

Joseph tells his brothers that what they did had always been in God's plan.

 

But now do not be distressed,
and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here.
It was really for the sake of saving lives
that God sent me here ahead of you.

 

 

What we perceive as negative may be exactly what God uses for his good.

For he truly can transform all things for his good.

We must pray for more trust and patience.

 

Joseph must have been just as surprised

as to how God used his situation

 to help his family

 as he was to have been dumped by his brothers.

 

His brothers were probably even more surprised.

They were most surprised by the compassion from Joseph.

 

Joseph was listening to God with the ears of his heart.

 

“Listen and attend with the ear of your heart.” 

“He should first show them in deeds rather than words all that is good and holy.”    

from the Rule of St. Benedict.

 

Joseph was practicing what St. Benedict adopted

as part of the rules for his community.

 

Joseph is a servant of the Lord.

He could have easily chosen to act differently.

He could have expressed anger and hatred toward his brothers,

but he instead chose to love them.

 

God loves us even when we do not deserve his love.

God loves us even though we sell our own soul to sin.

Joseph, sold into slavery through no fault of his own,

 was raised up as an instrument of God

 

No matter what our circumstances God wants to use us for his good.

 

Blessings come in trusting that God will make all things right.

And oh by the way...in his time.

Joseph had prepared his heart

long before his face to face encounter with his brothers.

 

Pray to be open to hear with the ears of your heart;

for this is where we will find joy.

Remember the marvels the Lord has done.