a man over Egypt, who shall be able to collect the grain of the seven years of abundance, and so manage affairs that it may be possible to find comfort in the time of famine, and that there may not be a complete destruction." These things pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. And then Pharaoh ministers to the outcome of the dreams of Joseph, which he had seen when he was living with his father. And he himself was interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh; but Pharaoh, unknown to himself, was leading the outcome of the dreams to their conclusion. For having heard these things, he says, he said to his servants: "Shall we find such a man as this, who has the Spirit of God in himself?"
D 4. Do you see how he, too, recognized that these things had become manifest to him from the revelation from above? "For whom," says he, "shall we find who is deemed worthy of such grace, as to have the Spirit of God in himself?" And he said to Joseph: "Since God has shown you all these things, there is no man more prudent than you." A He brought into the light things unknown to all, denoting by this very fact that Pharaoh imposes this name upon him. And, being bountiful with honor, he also gives him the daughter of Petephres for a wife. B Then, since this man was a namesake of his former master, he says, "of the priest of Heliopolis." And that we may learn what age this wonderful man was of, to be deemed worthy of such a reward and to have exhibited such contests, he says: 30. "And Joseph was thirty years of age, when he stood before Pharaoh." Let us not think that the time of his years was stated simply, but that we may learn that there is no excuse for anyone who neglects virtue, nor is it permitted for anyone to plead youth, where it is necessary to show virtue. For behold, this man was not only young, but also goodly in form and fair in countenance. For it is possible for one to be young and not to possess the beauty of the body. But this man, along with his youth, was goodly in form and fair in countenance, and while nearly in the very flower of his age, he became a slave and a captive. For he was seventeen years old, he says, when he was brought down to Egypt. C Then in that very furnace of his youth the licentious Egyptian woman, having become his mistress, set upon him, and not even so did she prevail against the manliness of the righteous one; then the dungeon, and the misery there for so much time; and he remained like an adamant, not only not becoming weaker, but even receiving added strength. For he had the grace from above fortifying him. And since he had already exhibited all that was within his power, for this reason he was called from the prison to the authority over all of Egypt. D
5. Hearing these things, let us never despair in our afflictions, nor let us be vexed, following our own reasonings; but showing much patience, let us be nourished by hope, knowing the resourcefulness of our Master, and that He does not overlook us and leave us to have experience of painful things, but wishes us, after having struggled, to be crowned with a brilliant crown. In this way all the saints were approved. For this reason the apostles also said: "Through many afflictions we must enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14: 22). And Christ Himself was saying to the disciples: "In the world you shall have affliction" (John 16: 33). Let us not, therefore, be sorrowful in our afflictions, but let us listen to Paul saying that "those who wish to live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution" (2 Tim. 3: 12). And let us not be surprised, nor let us be vexed, but let us bear what is brought upon us with all manliness and patience, not looking to the afflictions, but to the gain gathered for us from them; for this is a spiritual commerce. And just as those who wish to collect money, and who engage in this worldly trade, would not otherwise be able to increase their own wealth, if they did not endure many dangers by land and by sea (for there is a necessity to sustain the attacks of robbers and the plots of pirates), and yet they are prepared to accept everything with much eagerness, not perceiving any of the painful things due to the expectation of gain: in the same way, we too, considering the wealth gathered for us from this and our spiritual commerce, it is fitting to rejoice and exult, and not to contemplate the things that are seen, but the things that are not seen, just as Paul exhorts us, saying: "While we do not look at the things which are seen" (2 Cor. 4: 18). For this is faith, when we do not...
547 A Let us not be content with our bodily eyes, but imagine with the eyes of the mind those things which are not seen. For those things are more worthy of belief than things perceived by the bodily eyes. Thus was the patriarch acceptable to God, because he believed His promise, and became superior to nature and human reasonings; and therefore *it was accounted to him for righteousness* (Rom. 4:3). Consider that righteousness consists in believing those things which are spoken by God. For when He has promised anything, do not weigh the matter for me according to human consequences, but be above such reasonings, and trust in the power of Him who promised. Thus was each of the just men proved; thus also the admirable Joseph, even when, after those dreams, so many impediments had intervened, was not troubled in mind, was not disturbed, but bore all things bravely with a robust spirit, knowing it is impossible that those things which God has decreed should not come to pass. Therefore, after servitude, after the prison, and such great calumny, he received the princedom of all Egypt. Considering all these things, then, let us bravely undertake what is brought upon us, and give thanks for all things to the provident God, and await His help; which may it be granted to us all, by the grace and clemency of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit be glory, power, and honor, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
HOMILY LXIV
B *And Joseph went out from the face of Pharaoh, and went about all the land of Egypt; and the land produced in the seven years of plenty handfuls, and he gathered corn like the sand of the sea* (Gen. 41:46–49). Shall we today examine the history of Joseph, and see how that admirable man, having received the princedom of all Egypt, through the intelligence innate in him, provided for all? C For, he says, *he went out from the face of Pharaoh, and traversed all the land of Egypt; and caused the land… in the seven years of plenty to produce handfuls, and gathered corn as the sand of the sea*. Having received all authority from the king, he gathered, he says, the crops, and stored them in the cities, providing already long beforehand for those things which might succor the coming famine. Do you see what rewards for fortitude and patience, and other virtues, the just man received even here, when he ascended from chains to the royal palaces?
548 A *And there were born to him, he says, two sons, before there came the years of famine: God made me forget all my labors, and those which are of my father.* Mark here the religion and piety of the man, how through the naming of his son he preserved the memory of all things, so that he might give thanks perpetually, and that he who was born of him might be able to know through his name the trials and the patience which the just man, enduring, had reached such great glory. *Because God made me forget all my labors, and all things which are of my father.* B What is, *All my labors*? From this he seems to indicate to me his first and second servitude, and the misery he bore in prison. And *all things which are of my father*: he signifies the segregation which he sustained when snatched from his fatherly arms, because, in immature age, having been nurtured so liberally, he exchanged liberty for servitude.
*And he called the name of the second Ephraim, because God made me grow in the land of my humiliation.* See also the name of this one, full of thanksgiving. For not only have I forgotten adversity, but I have also increased in the land in which I sustained such great humiliation, being in extreme perils and anxious for my life. C But now, those things which follow are worthy to be heard. For after the fertility of seven years, there came also seven years of shortage and famine, according to the prediction of Joseph. For the event of things revealed to all the wisdom granted to the man, and this caused all to submit themselves to him. And when the famine had become severe, in the beginning he did not allow them to feel the shortage. *For in all the land of the Egyptians there was bread.*
But when the molestation of famine became strong, the people cried to Pharaoh, pressed by great indigence: for, compelled by hunger, they ran to the king. D Note the benevolence of this man: *Whatever he says to you, do*: as if he were saying: Why do you look to me? Do you not see that I merely wear the king’s habit, and that he has become to all of us the author of salvation? Do not, therefore, leave him and run to me, but go to him, and whatsoever he says to you, do. *Joseph opened the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians. And because the necessity of famine consumed all, all provinces came into Egypt, to buy corn; for_ the famine had prevailed over all the land.
See, I beseech you, how the dreams of Joseph begin little by little to receive their event. For when the famine prevailed, and occupied the land of Chanaan, in which dwelt Jacob, his father: 609 When he learned that corn was being sold in Egypt, he said, he says, to his sons: *Why are you sluggish? Behold I have heard that there is corn in Egypt. Descend, that you may buy for us a little food, that we may live, and not die* (Ch. 42). *Why*, he says, *do you sit here? Go into Egypt, and bring us sustenance.* But all these things were done so that Joseph's brothers might minister to his vision in all things: and might fulfill the interpretation of the dream which they themselves had conjectured, when they heard Joseph recounting the dream. *For there descended*, he says, *ten brothers, and they did not take Benjamin, who was Joseph’s brother by the same mother.* For his father was saying: *Lest perhaps some trouble happen to him*: sparing the boy, because he was of immature age. *And they came, and worshipped Joseph as the prince of Egypt upon their face on the ground.* And now they do all these things, being ignorant. For because much time had intervened, they did not recognize the face of their brother. For it is likely that the youth of formerly was now changed in appearance. And I think that all this was of divine dispensation, so that they could not recognize their brother either by speech or by aspect. For whence could they ever have come into such an opinion? For they thought he had been...
made a servant, and was serving among barbarians, A a thing that nothing similar could have entered their minds; and they did not recognize Joseph. But he, having seen them immediately, recognized them, and made haste to remain unknown, and wishing to treat them as strangers. For he was alienated from them, it says, and spoke to them harshly; and said: Whence have you come? He feigns total ignorance, so that he might be able to learn everything from them with precision. For he desired to know the matters concerning his father and his brother.
2. And for a while he inquires from what country they are, and they say they have come from Chanaan to buy food. The necessity of the famine, they say, has compelled us to this journey, and for this reason, having left our own [lands], we have arrived here. And he remembered, it says, Joseph, of the dreams which he himself had seen. Having come to a realization of the dreams, and having found the outcome having come to pass in reality, he wished to learn everything with precision. Therefore, he answers them immediately with much severity, and says: You are spies, and you have come to inspect the tracks of the earth. You have arrived, he says, not with a sound intention. You seem to have made your arrival here through some artifice and malice. B And they, becoming anxious, say: No, lord. And that which Joseph was eager to learn, they themselves teach him from home, and say: Your servants have come to buy food. We are all sons of one man, we are peaceful, your servants are not spies. Still apologizing only about themselves, and being shaken in their mind by fear, they have not yet said the things Joseph was eager for. Therefore he persisted, saying: No, but you have come to see the tracks of the earth. Superfluously, he says, you speak these things to me; for this very appearance of your presence shows that you have arrived here using some form of malice.
And they, being driven by necessity itself, and wishing to turn him toward pity, say: We are twelve sons, your servants, brothers. O, the deception of words! And they joined in the number him who was sold by them to the merchants; and they do not say, We were twelve, but, We are twelve brothers; and behold the younger one is with our father. For this was what he was eager to know: whether they had not also treated their brother in the same way. Behold, the younger one is with our father; and the other no longer exists. And they do not speak the cause clearly, but simply, He does not exist. From this, having come into suspicion, lest they had done the same things to Benjamin, he says: This is what I have said to you, that you are spies. For you shall not go out from here, until your brother, the younger one, comes here. Him I wish to see; I desire to behold the one who satisfied the same throes of childbirth as I did; for I suspect your brother-hating intention from what happened to me. C If, therefore, you wish, send one from among you, and bring him; but you, inhabit the prison, until he arrives. For he, having arrived, will teach whether the things said by you are true, and will liberate you from all suspicion. For if this does not happen, it will be clear that you are spies, and for this reason you have arrived here. And having said these things, he put them in prison. See how he tortures their minds, and through these things he shows to them the brotherly love he has toward his brother.
And after three days, having called them, he said: Do this, and you will live; for I fear God. If you are peaceful, let one of your brothers be kept in the prison; but you, go and take back the purchase of your provision, and bring your younger brother to me, and your words will be believed; if not, you will die. Consider the sagacity; wishing to show both his goodwill toward these, and to console the lack of their father, and to learn the truth about his brother, having ordered one to be held, he commanded the others to depart. But see for me now here the incorruptible judge, their conscience rising up against them, and while no one was accusing [them], nor bringing anything into the midst, they themselves becoming their own accusers. For he said, it says, each to his brother: Yes; for we are in sins concerning our brother, because we disregarded the affliction of his soul, when he was imploring us, and we did not listen to him; therefore, for this reason, all this affliction has come upon us. For such is sin; when it is completed and comes into action, then it shows the excess of its own absurdity. And just as the drunkard, when he pours in much unmixed wine, takes no perception of the damage D resulting from the wine, but afterwards through the experience itself he learns the magnitude of the harm; so also sin; until it is completed, it darkens the understanding, and just like a dense cloud, so it blinds the mind; but later, the conscience rising up, gnawing at the mind more severely than any accuser, it shows the absurdity of the things that have happened. For see these men now coming to perception, and when they saw the danger hanging over them for the whole matter, then confessing the things done by them, and saying: Yes, for we are in sins concerning our brother, because we disregarded the affliction of his soul. Not simply, nor in vain, he says, do we endure these things, but justly, and very justly; for we are paying the penalty for the inhumanity and the cruelty which we showed toward our brother; Because we disregarded the affliction of his soul, when he was imploring us, and we did not listen to him. Since, he says, we have been uncompassionate, and showed much cruelty, for this reason also we now experience the same things; For because of this, this affliction has come upon us.
3. And these things they were discussing with one another, thinking that Joseph heard none of these things. For, as if not knowing, and ignorant of their language, he had prepared an interpreter to stand between them, and to clarify the things from them to him, and to interpret the things from him to them. And hearing these things, Ruben said to them: Did I not speak to you, saying: Do not mistreat the lad, and you did not listen to me? And behold, his blood is being sought. Did I not advise, he says, then, did I not exhort, so that you would show no injustice concerning him? For this reason now, His blood is being sought. For by your intention you killed him; for even if you did not thrust the sword through his throat, but you sold him to barbarian men, and devised for him a slavery more grievous than death; for this reason, His blood is now being sought. Consider how great a thing it is to be accused by one's conscience, and to have this accuser constantly lying upon you, crying out and reminding [one] of the transgression. And these things Joseph was hearing, but they were [unaware]...
A that the interpreter would be between them. But he could no longer bear it, as the nature of brotherhood and sympathy was reproaching him. And turning aside, he says, he wept, so that he might not be manifest to them. And again he approached them, and spoke to them. And he took Symeon, and bound him before them. B Observe how he does everything to strike terror into them, so that seeing the bonds of Symeon, they might betray themselves [to see] if they show any pity for their brother. For he does all these things testing their mind, and wishing to know if they had become such toward Benjamin as well. For this reason he orders Symeon to be bound before them, so that he might scrupulously test them, and know if they had any affection towards the one. For his mercy towards him made him hasten the arrival of Benjamin, which he wished to happen, so that he might receive assurance from the presence of his brother. And he commanded, he says, that their sacks should be filled with grain, and that the silver of each should be put back into his sack, and that food for the journey should be given to them. C 26. And when they had loaded their donkeys, they went away. Observe how great a liberality he uses, while he benefits them even though they were unwilling, giving not only grain, but also silver. And when one of them had opened his sack, to give fodder to his donkeys, 28. he saw the silver, and said to his brothers. Because of this their heart was astonished, and they were troubled with one another saying: Why has God done this to us? Again they became more anxious, suspecting lest this too be an accumulation of accusations for them, and having an accuser from their conscience, they ascribed everything to the sin which they had committed against Joseph. D Having come to their father, and having declared everything to him manifest, they recounted the indignation of the ruler of Egypt, which they experienced, and that he had put them in custody, as spies. 31. We said to him, they say, that we are peaceful, 32. and that we are twelve brothers, and that one is not, [but] the youngest is with our father. 33. But he said to us: By this you will declare that you are peaceful, if, one brother being left here, 34. you bring back your younger brother, so that I may know that you are not spies. These things again aggravated the sadness of the just man. After this sad narrative, when they had emptied all their sacks, each one found his silver, and they and their father were afraid. And see, I pray, again here the old man weeping. And what does he say to them? 36. You have made me to be without children: Joseph is not, Symeon is not, and will you take this Benjamin? These things have come upon me. It was not enough for me, he says, the mourning of Joseph, but you added Symeon to it: and neither is this the end of my sorrows, but you also wish to take Benjamin. These things have come upon me. These words are sufficient, to be seen how the bowels of the father were torn. For just as for them every hope concerning Joseph had been removed (for he thought he had been devoured by beasts); so also he did not promise himself hope concerning Symeon: now he also fears the same thing concerning Benjamin. Nevertheless he was still resisting, and would not give up the boy. 37. But Ruben his firstborn said to him: Kill my two sons, if I do not bring him back to you. Give him into my hand, and I will bring him back to you. Entrust him to me, he says, hand him over to me, and I will bring him back to you. A [It is not] possible, unless the boy descended together [with us], for them to return to Egypt, and to buy that which pertained to sustenance. Yet the father does not yield, but says: 38. My son shall by no means descend with you. Then he also states the cause, as if rendering an account to his sons: Because his brother is dead, and he alone is left. And it will happen, as [he is] very young, [that he might] become ill on the journey, and you will bring down my old age with sadness to the underworld. I fear, he says, the youth of the adolescent, and I suspect lest also, deprived of this consolation, I finish my life with pain. For as long as he is with me, I seem to myself to have some consolation, and his company diminishes for me the pain, which I conceived from his brother. And indeed love towards Benjamin did not allow him to let him go; 1. But the famine was becoming more violent, and food was failing them. 2. And the father says to them: Go again, bring us a little food. 3. But Judas said to him: The man testified to us with an oath, saying: You will not see my face, unless your younger brother is with you. 4. Therefore if you send our brother with us, we will descend, and buy grain for you: 5. but if not, we will not go. For that man said to us: You will not see my face, unless your younger brother is with you. Do not think, he says, that we can descend there without the brother. For if you wish our descent to be in vain, and all of us to be involved in perils, let us go our way. But know that he protested that we would not see his face, unless the younger brother arrived with us. B Jacob had distress on all sides; therefore weeping he says to them: 6. Why did you afflict me, announcing to the man that you have a brother? Why did you afflict me? Why have you become the authors of these evils for me? For if you had not signified this to him, I would by no means have been deprived of Symeon, nor would he have required him from you. 7. But they said: The man asked us, if our father still lived, and if we had a brother, and we announced it to him. Did we know that he would say to us, Bring your brother? Do not think, he says, C that we confessed [these things] to the man of our own accord, [as to] how our affairs are. For since we had come under suspicion as spies, he detained us, but interrogated us scrupulously concerning our affairs: wishing to teach him everything truly, we said such things: the boy with me, and rising we will go, so that we may live, and not die. Entrust him to my faith, he says, so that we may gird ourselves for the journey. For with food consumed there will be no hope of salvation for us, nor will it be possible to consult for us from elsewhere. D before you, I will be the one who has sinned against you all [my] days. For if we had not waited so long, we would have already returned a second time. The compassion which you show to the boy, he says, will be for all of us the cause of death. For we shall perish by famine, unless he is willing to let him go with us. Observe finally here, beloved, how the necessity of famine has conquered the father’s love. For seeing that the famine could not be stilled from elsewhere, and that it was increasing in days more and more: If it is so, he says, and it is entirely necessary that this be done, you can descend, [and] if you have not received him, you ought also to bring gifts to the man, and return the silver, which you found in your sacks. Receive also other silver,
so that you may buy [provisions]. And take your brother, and arising, descend to the man. And may my God give you favor before the man, and let him send away your one brother, and Benjamin. For as for me, insofar as I have been bereaved, I am bereaved. A Observe how he displays his unutterable affection, which he possessed for Joseph. For in order that no one might think that the phrase "I have been bereaved, I am bereaved" was said concerning Benjamin or Simeon, for this reason he says beforehand: "And may my God give you favor, and let him send away your one brother, and Benjamin." Even if, he says, these are saved, yet "I have been bereaved, I am bereaved." Understand how he was entirely devoted to Joseph with affection. For seeing a choir of so many children encompassing him, he deemed himself childless, because he was deprived of him. B And having taken, he says, the gifts, and the silver double, and Benjamin, they descended into Egypt, and stood before Joseph. And Joseph saw them, and Benjamin his brother. What he desired, he beheld: the one most longed-for by him. He saw that his zeal had resulted in a deed. And he said, he says, to the one over his house: Bring the men into the house, and slaughter victims; for with me the men will eat. And seeing that they were brought into the house of Joseph, they said: Because of the silver that was returned in our sacks at the beginning, we are being brought in, to slander against us and set upon us, to take us into slavery, both us and our asses. Joseph indeed was arranging everything, displaying his friendliness toward them; but they, even so, were becoming anxious, suspecting that they would be required to pay penalties for the sake of the silver, as having done wrong in this too. And for this reason, having approached, they make the cause of their struggle clear to the one over the house, and they narrate how they found the silver in their sacks, and they say that: For this reason we brought the silver double with us now, so as to give back the former [sum], and to buy food. C 5. Observe how calamities softened their reasoning, and made them more gentle. And he said to them: Peace to you, do not fear; your God, and the God of your fathers, gave you treasures in your sacks; for I have received your silver [which was] in good repute. Do not be afraid, he says, nor be anxious on account of this. No one will fasten a charge upon you on account of this cause; for we have been filled with silver; but consider that this too has come to pass from God, and that He showed you treasures in your sacks. And having said these things he brought out Simeon, and brought water to wash their feet, and gave fodder to their asses. Observe how the prayer of the father made everything prosperous for them; and just as he prayed for them saying, "May the God of my father give you favor," so everything was coming to pass; and even before the presence of D Joseph, the one entrusted with the house was displaying every friendliness toward them. They prepared the gifts for Joseph. And when he entered, they offered them, and bowed down to him to the earth. And again he asks about them: Is your father, the old man, whom you spoke of, in good health? Does he still live? And they said: Your servant our father is in good health. And he said: Blessed be that man by God. And they bowed down and did obeisance. And he saw his brother, the one of the same mother, and said: Is this your younger brother, whom you spoke of bringing to me? And he said: May God have mercy on you, child. Observe how much endurance he displays, and [yet] he still pretends ignorance, so that through the things that happen next he might be able to take a test of their mind, as to how they are disposed toward Benjamin. And since he was overcome by nature itself, his bowels, he says, were stirred, and he sought to weep. And having entered into the inner chamber, he wept there. And having washed his face he came out; and henceforth he displays the friendliness from himself, and says: Set forth bread. And they set it before him alone, as indeed he was king and ruler of all Egypt; and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who were dining with him by themselves. For the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews; for it is an abomination to the Egyptians. And the first sat before him according to his seniority, and the younger according to his youth. This led them to astonishment, and they were in perplexity, whence the knowledge of the difference of their ages came to him. And having given portions to all, he gives to Benjamin five times as much. And not even so do they perceive the things happening, but thought that these things were happening from him simply because of some chance occurrence, as indeed toward a youth. And when the feast had reached its end, having called, he says, Joseph to the one over his house, he commanded him, saying: Fill the sacks of the men with food, as much as they can carry, and the silver likewise of each into his sack, and cast the silver cup into the sack of the younger. Observe again what a device he finds, so as to take a most accurate test of the mind of the brothers, which they displayed toward Benjamin. And these things having been done, he dismissed them. And when they had touched the road, he said, he says, to the one over his house: Having arisen, pursue after them, and you shall say: Why have you repaid evils instead of good things? For what did you steal my silver cup? Is this not that in which my lord drinks? And he himself divines with it. Evil things have been performed, which you have done. And having found them, he says, he said to them: Why did you repay against the benefactor with opposites? Why did you extend your own wickedness even to one who displayed such friendliness toward you? Why did you not respect the magnanimity of the man toward you? What is such great villainy? What [is] this madness with which you were maddened? Do you not know that this is the vessel in which my lord divines? Your deed is evil, your intention is destructive, the undertaking is unpardonable, the audacity is great, surpassing all wickedness. But they said to him: For what reason does the lord speak according to these words? For what cause, he says, do you bring a charge upon us, of which we are entirely innocent? May it not be for your servants to do according to this word; may it never be for us to have perpetrated this. For we, who brought back the silver double, how would we have stolen silver, or gold? But if you think this, with whomsoever the vessel is found, which you seek, let him die, as having done such a daring deed; and we shall be slaves. For the confidence from their conscience was preparing them to discuss these things with boldness. And he, he says, said: And now, as you say, so shall it be. With whomsoever the cup is found, this one shall be
my servant, but you shall be dismissed. And when they had said these things, they allowed him to make a search. B 12. And he searched, beginning from the elder, until he came to Benjamin; and his sack being opened, he found the cup. This brought darkness upon their mind. 13. And they rent, he says, their garments; and they placed the sacks upon the beasts again, and returned to the city. 14. And Judas, and his brethren entering in to Joseph, fell before him upon the earth. See how many times they perform adoration. 15. And Joseph said to them: Why have you done this? Do you not know that I am one who divines by such things? 16. And Judas, he says, said: What shall we contradict, or what shall we say to our lord, or how shall we be justified? God has found the injustice of your servants. Again they call to memory things which they once did against him. Behold, we are servants to our lord, both we and he with whom the cup was found. Now they declare much benevolence, and subordinate themselves along with their brother to servitude. 17. And Joseph said: Far be it that I should do this. The man with whom the cup shall have been found, he shall be my servant, but you ascend with safety to your father.
C 6. See how that which the father feared, this very thing has befallen him, and through endurance and confusion, they know not what to do. And approach, he says, Judas said. Since he was the one who had received him from his father and had said: Unless I bring him back to you, I shall be guilty of sin against you for all days: for this reason, having drawn near, he relates everything to him with precision, so that, having brought him to compassion, he might procure the freedom of the boy. And approach, he says, Judas did to him, and said: I pray, lord, let your servant speak. Observe how in all things the servant speaks as to a lord; and keep in memory the dreams of the sheaves, on account of which they had honed the greater envy against him, and be astonished at the clever wisdom of God, how, with such obstacles placed in the middle, all things were accomplished in deed. Let your servant speak, he says, before you, and be not angry with your servant, lord. 19. You asked your servants, saying: Have you a father or a brother? 20. And we said to our lord: We have an aged father, and he has a young son of his old age, and his brother is dead. Consider here how Joseph was affected hearing these things. He alone is left to his mother; and the father loves him. But why does he lie here too, saying thus: His brother is dead? And yet they had sold him to merchants. But because they had thus persuaded their father, as if he had been slain and devoured by beasts: otherwise they even thought he, not bearing the servitude of the barbarians, was already dead, and for this reason he says: His brother is dead. 21. You said, moreover, to your servants: Bring him down to me, and I will have care of him. 23. And you said: Unless your brother descend with you, you shall not see my face again. 24. And it came to pass when we came up to your servant our father, we announced to him the words of the lord. 25. And our father said to us: Go again, buy us a little food. 26. But we said to him: We shall not be able to descend, unless our brother goes down with us. 27. And your servant our father said: You know that my wife bore me two, 28. and one went out from me, and you said that he was devoured by a beast. Consider how through the excuse of Judas Joseph learned everything diligently that they had done at home after his sale, and what things they had reported to their father about him. 29. Now therefore, he says, if you take this one also, and a weakness befalls him on the road, you will bring down my old age with grief to the grave. So therefore, the father being thus affected toward the child, how shall we be able to see his face, the child not being with us? 30. For his soul hangs upon the soul of this one. 31. And your servants will bring down the old age of your servant our father with grief to the grave. For your servant took the child from his father saying: Unless I bring him back to you, I shall be liable to sin against you for all days. These promises I made to the father, so that I might be able to bring the boy, and fulfill the things which you had commanded, and show how truly we had spoken, and that no lie had been uttered by us. 33. Now therefore I will remain a servant instead of the child, a servant of the lord; but let the child ascend with his brethren. 34. For how shall we ascend to the father, when the child is not with us? And lest I see the evils which will find my father. These things moved Joseph in soul, and sufficiently demonstrated to him that they both honored the father worthily, and loved the brother much, but with all others cast aside, he being left alone among them, D 2. raising his voice with weeping, he made himself known to his brethren. And this became known in the whole kingdom, in the house of Pharaoh. 3. And he says to his brethren: I am Joseph (Gen. 45). One is here led to admire both the constancy of this blessed man, and that until this point he sustained the simulation, and that he did not declare who he was; and I am vehemently astonished, how they were able to stand, or to open their mouths afterward, how their soul did not fly away from them, how their whole mind was not struck dumb, how they did not hide themselves in the earth. And they could not, he says, his brethren answer him; for they were troubled. Deservedly thinking how they had treated him, and what manner of man he himself had been toward them; and thinking of the glory in which he was established, they were almost anxious about their own safety. Therefore, wishing to animate them, 4. Approach, he says, to me. Do not be troubled; do not think that you did these things against me by your own counsel. These things are not so much to be ascribed to your wickedness toward me, as to the divine wisdom and ineffable mercy: so that coming here, now in time I might be able to provide sustenance both for you and for this whole region. And he said: I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. [alt-version omitted] Do not let it seem harsh to you what has been done. For by the dispensation of God these things happened. For God sent me into life before you. 6. For this is the second year of famine upon the earth, and still five years remain, in which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest. 7. For God sent me before you, that remnants might be left for you upon the earth. 8. Now therefore you did not send me here, but God.
the cause, and his descent into Egypt, but that God had done this, so that he might come into this prominence. God, he says, sent me, and made me as a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and ruler of all Egypt. That slavery, he says, procured this authority for me, that sale brought me to this prominence, that affliction became the cause of this approval for me, that envy gave birth to this glory of mine. Let us not only hear these things, but let us also imitate them, and thus let us comfort those who treat us badly, estranging from them the things that have happened against us, and bearing all things with much gratitude, just as this admirable man did. Since, then, he says, you have been persuaded by me, that I do not attribute to you the things that have been done to me by you, but I rather release you from the accusations, and I attribute the whole matter to God, who arranged all those things, in order that this present glory might accrue to me: Hastening, therefore, go up to my father, and say to him: Thus saith thy son Joseph: God has made me lord of all the land of Egypt. Come down, therefore, to me, and do not delay; and thou shalt dwell in the land of Gesem, and thou shalt be near me, thou, and thy sons, and the sons of thy sons, and thy sheep, and thy oxen, and as many things as are thine, and I will support thee (for there is yet five years of famine), lest thou be destroyed, thou, and thy sons, and all that thou hast. Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. Tell my father all my glory in Egypt, and all that you have seen, and hastening, bring him down. Having discussed all these things, and having sufficiently comforted them, and having enjoined them to tell his words to his father, and to quickly bring him back, falling upon the neck of Benjamin he wept (for he was his brother by the same mother), and he again wept over him; and he kissed all his brothers, and wept over them. And then after such a conversation and tears and the counsel which he gave them, they were barely able to speak to him. For after these things, he says, they spoke to him. And these things were reported into the house of Pharaoh, and he rejoiced, and all those in the house. The recognition of Joseph's brothers, he says, caused everyone to rejoice. And he said, he says, the king to Joseph: Say to thy brothers: Do this: fill your beasts of burden with grain, and depart. And taking your father, come to me, and I will give you of all the good things of Egypt; and you, give orders for them to take wagons for the little ones and the women. Observe also the king, how he already cares about the return of Jacob. And taking, he says, your father, arrive, and do not spare your eyes for the sake of your equipment. For all the good things of Egypt will be yours. And the sons of Israel did so. And Joseph gave them wagons according to the commands of the king; and he gave to all two changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of gold, and five changes of clothing, and to his father he sent likewise, and ten donkeys taking of the good things of Egypt, and ten mules taking bread for his father for the journey. And having given all these things, he sent away his brothers, and they went; and he said to them: Do not be angry on the way. Observe his philosophical mind. Not only did he himself let go of all anger toward them, and release them from the accusations, but he also advises them not to be angry on the way, nor to accuse each other for the things that had happened. For if when they had stood before Joseph previously, they were saying to themselves: Truly, we are in sins concerning Joseph, our brother, in that we overlooked his affliction, and Reuben standing by was saying: Did I not tell you: Do not wrong the child, and you did not listen to me? it was much more likely that he would have stood up against them. And for this reason, curbing their anger and their contention with each other, he says: Do not be angry on the way; but considering that I have brought no charge against you for the things done to me, and you also be kindly disposed toward one another. Who would not worthily admire the virtue of this just man, who fulfilled with much abundance the philosophy in the New Testament; and what Christ advises saying to the apostles: Love your enemies, pray for those who despitefully use you, this man did even much more? For he not only showed such love toward those who had killed him, insofar as it concerned them, but he does all things so as to teach them that they did not even sin at all against him. O the excess of philosophy! O the intensity of gratitude, and the abundance of love towards God! For, he says, did you yourselves perform these things against me? The providence of God concerning me allowed these things to happen, so that He might provide the outcome of the dreams to me, and that I might become a sufficient cause of salvation for you. To be in afflictions, therefore, or in temptations, is a proof of the much care and providence of the benevolent God toward us. Let us not, therefore, by any means seek only ease and security, but even when we are in ease, and when we are in afflictions, let us likewise send up thanksgiving to the Master, so that, having seen our gratitude, He may show more abundant care toward us: of which may we all attain, by the grace and loving-kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father, together with the Holy Spirit, be glory, power, honor, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
HOMILY LXV
And they went up, he says, out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan to Jacob their father, and reported to him, saying, that thy son Joseph lives, and himself rules all the land of Egypt. And Jacob was astonished in his mind; for he did not believe them. (Gen. 45. 25, 26).1. You have seen from the things said yesterday the philosophy of Joseph and the unspeakable long-suffering which he showed toward his own brothers, not only having made no mention of the things that had happened against him, but having also advised this very thing to them as they were about to return to the father, and having introduced counsel that they should not blame one another for the things that had been wrought against him, but, having driven away all anger, should make their journey with harmony. It is necessary, however, finally today to complete the rest, so that we may see both their return to their father, and the descent of Jacob into Egypt; and how he is being dragged into...
A a state of being, so to speak, becoming a youth once again from an old man. For who would have been able by words to represent the pleasure in which he was then, when he learned that Joseph was alive, and was in such great eminence? For unexpected goods are accustomed to bring about greater pleasure. For he who thought that Joseph had been devoured by wild beasts so many years before, when he learned that he held the rule of all Egypt, how would he not have been beyond himself with the magnitude of his joy? For excessive joy is accustomed to produce the same things as intense grief. And it is possible to see many shedding tears for excessive joy, and others often even becoming struck dumb, when they see things happening that they had not expected and see those they thought dead, suddenly alive.
But that our discourse may become clearer, let us hear what has been read: B 25. And they came up, it says, out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan to Jacob their father, 26. and they announced to him, saying: “Your son Joseph lives, and he himself is ruler of all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob was beside himself in his mind: for he did not believe them. You see, that which I was saying, that the news about Joseph seemed unbelievable to him, so that his mind was shaken, and he thought that what was being said by his brothers was a deception? For they who had once brought the tunic stained with the blood of a kid, and had persuaded their father that he had been devoured by wild beasts, they now say that he is alive, and rules over all Egypt. C And with a troubled mind he reasoned to himself how this could be reasonable: for if that which was said before is true, how could this be believed? But if this is to be believed and is true, that must necessarily have been a lie. What troubled him most of all was that he had heard one thing from his sons before, and was now learning other things from the same men. Seeing, therefore, the father's confusion, and wishing to persuade him with many proofs that they were telling the truth, 27. They spoke to him all the things which had been said by Joseph, and whatever he had commanded them. And afterward they brought out the wagons and the gifts which had been sent by Joseph, D and with difficulty at last they convinced their father that what was being said by them were not lies. For seeing the wagons which had been sent, so that he might descend into Egypt, he received his first strength, it says. An old man, decrepit, looking to the earth, was flourishing with alacrity of spirit like a youth. What is, “he received his first strength”? Just as a light in a lamp, when the nourishment of oil fails, and it is already about to be extinguished, if someone pours in a little oil, suddenly the light which was thought to be extinguished emits a light more brilliant: so also that old man was seen to be already being extinguished from grief. For he would not, it says, receive consolation, saying: “I will descend mourning into Hades.” But when he knew his son was alive, and ruled over all Egypt, and saw the wagons, he received his first strength, and he became a young man from an old one. He laid aside the mist of sorrow, he dispelled the tempest of his thoughts, he was subsequently tranquil: all these things God ordering, so that the just man might find consolation for so many labors, and might be a partaker of the happiness of his son: and furthermore so that the dream might be fulfilled, that which he himself had interpreted, saying, “Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren come to bow down to the earth to thee?” And he believed the words and the things seen. 28. And he said, it says: “It is great for me, if Joseph my son is still alive: I will go therefore, and see him before I die.” It is great for me, he says, and it exceeds every thought, and obscures every human joy, if my son Joseph is still alive: I will go therefore and see him. Let us hasten therefore, that I may enjoy his speech before I die. Now, he says, that message invigorated my soul, and chased away the infirmity of old age, and fortified my mind. And if it also happens that I speak with him, having attained perfect joy, I shall die. And the just man, delaying nothing, committed himself to the journey, hastening and urging that he might see such a desired son, and that he might see present now as king of Egypt him who had died so many years before, and, as he thought, had become food for wild beasts.
1. And when he had come to the well of the oath, he offered to the Lord prayers by which he gave thanks, and sacrificed a sacrifice to the God of his father Isaac.
[Chapter 47 begins]
We should be taught this, whatever we are about to do, if we are about to undertake any matter, or if we are about to set out on a journey, we should first offer to the Lord a sacrifice of prayer, and invoke his aid, and thus begin our undertaking, imitating the piety of those just men. He sacrificed a sacrifice to the God of his father Isaac: that you may learn he followed the footprints of his father, and declared this in divine worship, just as Isaac did. And because he showed his grateful affection first through thanksgiving, those things which were of heavenly aid followed immediately. For because he saw the great duration of the journey, and thought of his own decrepit age, he feared lest he might be overtaken by death, and be deprived of the conversation and sight of his son, he prays to the Lord that He may grant him such a measure of life, that he may enjoy perfect pleasure. But see how the good Lord renders the just man secure by many proofs. 2. For God said to Israel in a vision of the night: “Jacob, Jacob; 3. I am the God of thy fathers; do not fear to descend into Egypt. For I will make thee there into a great nation. 4. I will descend with thee, and I will bring thee up to the end, and Joseph shall place his hands upon thine eyes.” See how God promises him those things which that just man desired: nay even much greater things. For by His liberality He transcends our petitions, preserving His accustomed mercy. “Do not fear,” He says, “to descend into Egypt.” Because he was anxious on account of the length of the way, therefore He says: “Do not look to the infirmity of old age. For I will make thee there into a great nation: and I will descend with thee into Egypt.” I will accompany you, and I will render all your affairs prosperous. Note how He tempers His words to our humility: “I will descend,” He says, “with thee into Egypt.” What could be more blessed than to have God Himself as a companion of the journey? Afterward follows the consolation, of which the old man was in great need: “And Joseph,” He says, “shall place his hands upon thine eyes.” That beloved one of yours shall himself cherish you, and shall place his hands upon your eyes. Rejoicing therefore, and being all secure, take up the journey. Consider here, I beseech you, how pleasant the just man made his journey, having received such certain promises from God. 5. For Jacob rose up, it says, and his sons: 6. and they took all their possession, and came into Egypt. 7. In sixty-six souls Jacob descended into Egypt...