August 16, 20A (Genesis 45:1-15)
Is the Joseph story just an old unsophisticated morality trope?
How do any of us know what the events of our lives mean? Human beings often consider some version of this question in response to important events or milestones, joys and challenges. It is worth pondering how or if faith gives to our lives a different sense of meaning and purpose.
Some find meaning or even divine purpose and guidance in almost any event. The gift of this perspective is that God is perceived to be near and active in the way a life unfolds. Good things happen? God is to be praised. Bad things happen? God is to be trusted to use it for some kind of purpose. The challenge to this perspective is that God then becomes the author of some pretty terrible things that do not seem to be working for any good purpose. It can also excuse us from taking responsibility for our own actions. All becomes God’s will.
Others believe that God is somewhat absent from the minutiae of human life and maybe even from larger events in human history. The gift here is that humans must take responsibility for their agency, for their triumphs and failures. The challenge is that God becomes distant and cold, watching flailing humans do what they will in isolation from divine mercy, guidance, or meaning.
