Daily Reflection for Friday March 05, 2021
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Friday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/030521.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a
Responsorial: Psalm 105:16-17, 18-19, 20-21
Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46
Our reflection on Friday’s readings:
Today’s first reading finds us focusing on and thinking about how Joseph must have felt deep-down when he realized that he was his father’s favorite: “Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age; and he had made him a long ornamented tunic.” (Genesis 37:3) Further in Genesis, we find that Joseph is hated by his 11 brothers. “They (his brothers) hated him so much that they would not even greet him.”
This is a great story to focus on this Lenten season. It reminds us that we all have crosses to bear and maybe offers a glimpse of the cross that Jesus Christ bore when He gave His life for our sins. Watching Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” offered us much knowledge and insight into the familiar story. You may like to view this truly amazing, well-acted and well-sung one-hour 12-minute, family-friendly version on YouTube. We thoroughly enjoyed it--watched it twice! Just to think that Joseph was only 17 when he knew he was loved by his father but hated by his brothers!
This story of Joseph and his relationship with his father and brothers reminds us that there may be jealously in family relationships. My (Dorothy) parents had their favorite who was my younger sister Lucy; she was the last one born and the most loved. My sisters and I thoroughly understood and Lucy was our favorite sister, too—and Lucy knew it. Quite understandable—maybe because she was born with cerebral palsy, her cross to bear—and would live a short life. Actually, Lucy became one of the favorites of many residents throughout our small town of Wilmore. (Shh . . .I think I was my parents’ second favorite.)
When jealously arises among siblings, we need to remember the words of Pope Francis in his quote Every Child is a Gift: “We need to see each child as a gift to be welcomed, cherished and protected.”
As we continue this Lenten season, may we learn from what Joseph had to face as he bore many crosses. May we have the strength to bear the crosses that come our way and just wait for the higher power—God’s providence. Our God is always there to teach us!
Our Prayer: Dear Lord, we thank You for your valuable lessons. May we listen, hope, and learn.
Dorothy and Carlos Alexander