THEIR PLOTS WERE IN HIS PLAN

Friday, Second Week of Lent, Year C

Genesis 37:3-4.12-13.17-28/Matthew 21:33-43.45-46

My dear friends, you know about the story of Joseph in the Bible. That is the subject of our first reading today. He was a gifted chap and his father loved him so much. Unfortunately for him, the love of his father attracted the hatred of his ten brothers. His giftedness made the matter worse. He was anointed with the gift of dreams and God’s hand was on him. But his brothers were envious of him, they were afraid of his dreams and they were intent on putting an end to it. They thought that the best way to kill his dreams was to kill him.

Their wicked plot got vent when on one occasion their father Israel sent Joseph to check on them in the fields. When they saw him, they said to themselves, “Aha, here comes the dreamer, let’s us kill him and throw him into one of these pits... and we shall see what becomes of his dreams”.  Reuben suggested that they throw him rather into the pit without soiling their hand with his blood. They agreed on that and finely executed it. Then they sat down to eat; and looking up they saw Ishmaelite traders coming from Gilead, and Judah suggested it was an opportunity to make some extra money from their doomed little brother. He was brought out and sold for 20 shekels of silver, ten units cheaper than the prize for the betrayal of Jesus. For them, Joseph was gone for good and his dreams were now as good as dead.

But God had their plots in His plan. Think of that awhile! It was a very wicked complot that these sons of Israel had but see how God tailored it into His plan. It happened that they all agreed (without a single one objecting) that they should not kill him themselves; it happened that Ishmaelite traders were passing by at that moment; it happened that the traders wanted to buy a slave; it happened that they were going down to Egypt; it so happened that as they were busy plotting, God was working out something.  What they meant for evil, God turned into good.

You may be passing through a similar situation and all you can see is meaningless suffering. God is nowhere in the picture. People manipulating things here and there; trusted ones betraying you and even the friends you never expected to disappoint you have turned their backs on you. You just had a very painful breakup and it seems the whole world has crashed on you. This business partner you thought was genuine has just duped of some good money. Where go from here? Your dreams have gone blank and your aspirations are fading away like vapour before you. Give me your attention; I want to tell you something: it is not the end of the story. Do not be bitter or discouraged. God is working out something which you can’t see now. He has got their plot in His plan.

Have a nice day and God loves.