Children should show their love for their parents by never annoying or grieving them, and by helping them in their necessities. And, in the same way, brothers and sisters ought to love one another.
Application. In order to spare his old father grief, Juda offered to be a slave, instead of Benjamin, for the rest of his life. Have you ever caused sorrow to your parents? Repent of this, and take every pains to be a joy to them by your obedience, diligence &c. “Son, grieve not thy father” (Ecclus. 3, 14).
Juda protected Benjamin. You ought to take up the cause of your younger brothers and sisters, and help them to pray and learn to keep from evil and love what is good. But are you not, on the contrary, cross with them, and do you not, sometimes, encourage them to do wrong?
Chapter XXV.
JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BRETHREN.
[Gen. 45.]
JOSEPH could no longer restrain himself, and, therefore, he commanded his officers and servants to retire[1]. Then, with tears[2] and sobs, he said: “I am Joseph. Is my father[3] yet living?” His brothers could not answer him, being struck with exceeding great fear[4]. But Joseph said mildly to them: “Come nearer to me. I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Fear nothing, for God sent me[5] before you into Egypt for your preservation.”
Then he said: “Make haste, and go ye up to my father, and say to him: ‘Thus saith thy son Joseph: Come down to me ; linger not; and thou shalt dwell in the land of Gessen; and thou
- ↑ Retire . They were all Egyptians. He wished to talk undisturbed with his brothers, and also not to make known their guilt to others.
- ↑ Tears. His heart was so moved that he had to weep, before he could utter a word.
- ↑ My father. How he loved his father! He asked repeatedly after him, in order to hear over and over again the glad news that he was still alive.
- ↑ Great fear. Their guilty consciences made them fear that Joseph would now revenge himself on them.
- ↑ God sent me. He meant: It was by God’s Providence that I came here, and became governor over Egypt, in order to save you and the Egyptians from starvation. He wished to comfort them and find excuses for them, and thus give them courage.
