2nd Week of Lent 2023 - Friday - God brings good out of suffering and evil

 On this Friday of the second week of Lent, we hear the story of Joseph betrayed and sold into slavery by his brothers. Joseph foreshadows, certainly how Our Lord was betrayed by Judas and sold for the price of a slave—30 pieces of silver. 

Joseph being sold into slavery is certainly not the end of the story. Things actually got worse for Joseph, before they got better. Joseph, sold into slavery, would go on to serve in the house of Potiphar.  but then, he would be falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife. And for this false accusation, Joseph was imprisoned.

But while in prison—in the darkness of his prison cell—Joseph used his God given gift of interpreting dreams to help his fellow prisoners. Well, one of those prisoners was released, and while employed in the court of the Egyptian king, got Joseph a job interpreting dreams for the pharaoh. 

Soon, Joseph’s talents for administration became evident that he became the right hand of the king and he became so influential in Egypt, that when his brothers come from the holy land to Egypt seeking food, he is able to provide for them, and is even reconciled with them and his father. God brings good out of evil.

The story of Joseph certainly foreshadows the passion of Our Lord. The stone rejected by the builders becomes the cornerstone. Through the evil he suffered, his rejection by his own people, the false accusations, imprisonment, torture, mockery, crucifixion, and death, God would bring about the greatest good: the resurrection of Christ and our redemption.

“All things work together for those who love God,” says Paul. Our sufferings, our imprisonments, the mockery we endure for standing firm in the faith, God will bring good out of it, out of all of it.  The ways of God are mysterious, but God is in charge. Not even the greatest evils can hinder God from bringing about an even greater good.

We willingly undergo penances—minor sufferings, all in all, no—believing that God can bring good out of those sufferings willingly endured—if anything else, he brings about our own sanctification. But my guess is that God uses those penances to bring about much more than that: graces are won by our penances for the softening of hearts hardened toward God’s Son. 

And those sufferings which are beyond our control—like they were beyond the control of Joseph—betrayal from his own family, false accusations—may we keep calm, and keep the faith, trusting that God will bring about great good for those who love Him, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That the season of Lent may bring the most hardened hearts to repentance and bring to all people purification of sin and selfishness.

For those preparing for baptism and the Easter sacraments, that they may continue to conform themselves to Christ through fervent prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

For success for our upcoming Lenten retreat next week and for blessings upon our retreat leader, Bishop Woost.

That we may generously respond to all those in need: the sick, the suffering, the homeless, the imprisoned, and victims of violence. 

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that your people may turn to you with all their heart, so that whatever they dare to ask in fitting prayer they may receive by your mercy. Through Christ our Lord.

2nd Week of Lent 2022 - Friday - Rejection of God

 

In both first reading and Gospel today we hear of rejection.  In the first reading, Joseph’s brothers rejected him and plotted to kill him.  In the Gospel, in the parable of the wicked tenants we hear how the tenant farmers reject, seize and kill, not only the vineyard owners servants, but also his son.

Jesus refers to himself as the cornerstone which will be rejected.  He too will be seized and killed by those who reject him.

The tale of rejection goes back to the beginning when Adam and Eve rejected God’s command, thereby rejecting His plan for them and for mankind.  By rejecting God they forfeited paradise. The sinner rejects God’s truth and God’s plan; he pretends that his life belongs to him for his own purposes.   

Sometimes the teachings of the Church are found difficult—they infringe on our sinful habits and attachments—and so they are rejected.  They are difficult so often because we have hardened our hearts against them. Yet, as G.K. Chesterton said, “Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.”  

Many so-called Cafeteria Catholics belief the faith is like a buffet line, they can take what they like and reject the rest. But once you begin rejecting Church doctrine, where does it stop? Why does the current generation reject the Church almost outright? Perhaps we need to look no further than what their parents and grandparents rejected a generation ago. Cafeteria Catholicism in one generation, leads often to the total rejection of the faith in the next. Their parents never made them eat their vegetables because they initially found them bitter, and now they don’t eat vegetables at all.

In the first reading, Joseph’s brothers reject him because of envy—he was an obstacle to their happiness. Today, many people reject the faith for the same reason. They envy. They covet. They envy yuppies, movies stars, star athletes, power brokers, and so they reject the faith which tells them that these are false idols and empty pursuits. No wonder why they become so exhausted, they’ve become fixated on chasing an illusion—the illusion that something other than God can bring rest to their restless souls.

And we’ve all done this to some extent. Which is why Lent is so important. The prayer, fasting, almsgiving of Lent helps us to do penance for those not when I have forgotten that I am not the vineyard owner, but merely a tenant. Where I have rejected God’s call to holiness out of envy, arrogance, and self-centeredness. 

Help us to repent of our sins Lord, and to return to you with our whole hearts, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That our Lenten observances will bring about profound renewal in our parish and in our lives and relationships.

That God will rescue all those who live at a distance from him because of self-absorption or sin.

That all families will recommit themselves to fervent prayer this Lent so as to grow in greater love and holiness.  

That this Lent we will be faithful to fasting and to all the ways that the Lord sanctifies us.  

For generous giving for the needs of the poor, the hungry, the homeless, those who are sick, unemployed, victims of natural disaster, terrorism, war, and violence, the grieving and those most in need.  

For all those who have died, for all the poor souls in purgatory…

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.