The appointed Old Testament reading for today is taken from the Book of Genesis and it is a part of the story of Joseph, who you will recall, was sold into slavery by his brothers. We read:
When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, ‘Joseph’s brothers have come’, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Say to your brothers, “Do this: load your animals and go back to the land of Canaan. Take your father and your households and come to me, so that I may give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you may enjoy the fat of the land.” You are further charged to say, “Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Give no thought to your possessions, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.” ’
The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons according to the instruction of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. To each one of them he gave a set of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of garments. To his father he sent the following: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. Then he sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving he said to them, ‘Do not quarrel along the way.’
So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. And they told him, ‘Joseph is still alive! He is even ruler over all the land of Egypt.’ He was stunned; he could not believe them. But when they told him all the words of Joseph that he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. Israel said, ‘Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I must go and see him before I die.’ (Gen. 45: 16-28).
The story of Joseph tells us that God brings good even out of evil. Feeling guilty, Joseph’s brothers decided not to kill him; rather, they sold him as a piece of merchandise. Nevertheless, God turned their evil plans and brought good out of them. As we read today, Joseph would one day help the very people who not only wished him harm, but worked to achieve it. Joseph’s story is one of hope.
Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
THIS IS THE BIG SECOND ANNUAL BBQ WEEKEND (SATURDAY, 17 MARCH) WITH BIG MISTA & FRIENDS!
THE LENTEN SERIES CONTINUES THIS WEDNESDAY AT GRACE at 6:00 p.m. starting with Stations of the Cross.
END OF LIFE ISSUES DAY, Saturday, 24 March at 11:00 a.m.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Patricia Robinson, Stacey Putman’s parents, all of those who will be traveling this week and for all of those seeking employment.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
When the report was heard in Pharaoh’s house, ‘Joseph’s brothers have come’, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. Pharaoh said to Joseph, ‘Say to your brothers, “Do this: load your animals and go back to the land of Canaan. Take your father and your households and come to me, so that I may give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you may enjoy the fat of the land.” You are further charged to say, “Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. Give no thought to your possessions, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.” ’
The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons according to the instruction of Pharaoh, and he gave them provisions for the journey. To each one of them he gave a set of garments; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of garments. To his father he sent the following: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey. Then he sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving he said to them, ‘Do not quarrel along the way.’
So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. And they told him, ‘Joseph is still alive! He is even ruler over all the land of Egypt.’ He was stunned; he could not believe them. But when they told him all the words of Joseph that he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. Israel said, ‘Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I must go and see him before I die.’ (Gen. 45: 16-28).
The story of Joseph tells us that God brings good even out of evil. Feeling guilty, Joseph’s brothers decided not to kill him; rather, they sold him as a piece of merchandise. Nevertheless, God turned their evil plans and brought good out of them. As we read today, Joseph would one day help the very people who not only wished him harm, but worked to achieve it. Joseph’s story is one of hope.
Let us pray: Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
CALENDAR REMINDERS
THIS IS THE BIG SECOND ANNUAL BBQ WEEKEND (SATURDAY, 17 MARCH) WITH BIG MISTA & FRIENDS!
THE LENTEN SERIES CONTINUES THIS WEDNESDAY AT GRACE at 6:00 p.m. starting with Stations of the Cross.
END OF LIFE ISSUES DAY, Saturday, 24 March at 11:00 a.m.
PLEASE REMEMBER EVERYONE ON OUR PRAYER LIST, especially Patricia Robinson, Stacey Putman’s parents, all of those who will be traveling this week and for all of those seeking employment.
Your servant in Christ,
Fr. Chester J. Makowski+
St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550
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