Joseph reconciles himself to his brothers. He does so by drawing contrition from their hearts.
On the third day Joseph said to his brothers:
"Do this, and you shall live; for I am a God-fearing man.
If you have been honest,
only one of your brothers need be confined in this prison,
while the rest of you may go
and take home provisions for your starving families.
But you must come back to me with your youngest brother.
Joseph feeds the people in exile with stores of grain which he rations.
When the famine had spread throughout the land,
Joseph opened all the cities that had grain
and rationed it to the Egyptians,
since the famine had gripped the land of Egypt.
How much more does Jesus do these things. Just as the brothers sell Joseph into slavery so too are we complicit in the crucifixion of Jesus by our sins. Just as the people of Egypt feel hunger so too do we long for something which can truly satisfy our deepest hungers. Scripture tells us that we shall look on him whom we have pierced (see John 19:37). Jesus draws from us sorrow for our sins. Joseph weeps for the schism between his brothers and himself. How much more so does Jesus long to be united with us. He longs for us to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the bond of peace (see Ephesians 4:3). He longs for us to be united in a new family, founded on the twelve apostles.
Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples
and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out
and to cure every disease and every illness.
The old kingdom of Israel could not maintain unity. Jesus brings a new kingdom where he himself is the source of unity. It is a kingdom built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets (see Ephesians 2:20). The apostles are the twelve pillars of the city of God (see Revelation 21:14). From this new Kingdom Jesus feeds us with the true bread from heaven, bread which gives life to the world (see John 6:33).
Jesus weeps for our sins and longs for our reconciliation. He sees our hunger and longs to satisfy us the bread of life.
But see, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
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