A Reflection on the Daily Office Readings

Genesis 42:1-17

Our words and actions always have consequences. Either now or later, we will have to account for how we have chosen to live our life. There is no running away from the truth; we have no choice but to face the music and pay the piper at some point. In this passage Joseph’s brothers go down to Egypt to buy grain. Little did they know that the  Joseph, whom they had sold into slavery, had now become a mighty leader in Egypt. Joseph was governor over Egypt, and all the food Egypt was under his control. Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them and remembered his dream, but the brothers did not recognize him. Joseph, not wanting to reveal his true identity, treated his brothers like strangers, spoke harshly to them, accused them of being spies, and even put them in prison for three days. The brothers explained to Joseph that they were 12 brothers in all - the youngest had not traveled with them and another brother (Joseph) had died. To prove that they were not spies, one of the brothers was kept in prison while the others went to bring the youngest brother to see Joseph. The truth of who we are and what we have done will come to light at some point because that is what truth does. What truth is yet to be revealed about us? How might we feel if that truth were to be made known?


1 Corinthians 5:1-8

What immorality is there among us? How arrogant are we to continue in our sinful ways? Why do we not regret our sinful ways and repent of our acts of evil? Truly, truly, wrong is wrong and right is right - we must declare things as so, and not be afraid of hurting one another’s feelings. Turning a blind away to sin will only lead to a full destruction of the flesh. Is it not not better to admonish one another in the righteous ways of God so that we might be saved from eternal damnation? We make excuses as if our wrongful acts were not a big deal. Do we not know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? May we observe this Lent season, not with the old yeast, the yeast of unrighteousness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.


Mark 3:19b-35

A people divided against itself, cannot stand. What evil strongholds are there in our community? Unless those evil strongholds are destroyed, we can not build a better life together. When we come together to do the will of God, we will experience the joy of being part of the family of God.


To God be the glory now and forever. Amen.

Fr. Thomas+



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