KES Chapel Reflection, Week of 5 March
God sent me before you to preserve life
It is a powerful and moving scene. “Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him,” and so he sends everyone away from his presence except for his brothers. He makes himself known to them. “I am Joseph, your brother.” It is a beautiful scene of reconciliation. We can feel the intensity of the moment and even more, the distress and dismay of his brothers. For in seeing Joseph, the brother whom they betrayed and thought was dead, they confront their own sin and evil. They confront themselves. And yet that is the good news and the real power of this remarkable narrative.
This week in Chapel we have continued with the story of Joseph. On Monday and Tuesday, we heard about the second journey of the brothers to Egypt to get grain, this time with their youngest brother, Benjamin, with them. Joseph and Benjamin are the two brothers from the same mother, Rachel. Joseph had not yet revealed himself to his brothers but sent them on their way with grain in the sacks and unbeknowst to them, their money. But in Benjamin’s sack, he had placed his silver cup. They leave but immediately, Joseph sends a servant after them to say, “Why have you returned evil for good? Why have you stolen my silver cup?” They are brought back to Joseph to face the consequences, knowing that if anything happens to Benjamin it will cause immeasurable sorrow to their father, Jacob.
Jacob is also Israel – one who strives with God. In a way, the story of Joseph reveals something of the true nature of our humanity’s struggles with God. The silver cup is an intriguing device and one which will have its antecedents in history and culture, particularly in terms of the Jewish Passover and the story of Christ at the last supper and the later significance of the chalice, the cup of the Passover. Christ will be betrayed at supper by Judas. And yet, that scene also marks the institution of the central Christian service of the Holy Eucharist, Mass, Holy Communion, or the Lord’s Supper – all different terms recalling the same event. The chalice, the cup, takes on a symbolic significance.