Genesis37:1-4, 12-28

Pentecost +13 – Year A

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28

Who knows what family storms were brewing when Joseph received his special coat. It was as dark and stormy a time as when the disciples were in the canoe without a paddle.

Seeing Joseph's ghost coming closer the brothers decided that vengeance was the way to go to take care of such matters. Eventually Joseph went down into the pit, as deeply as Peter when down in the sea – as deeply as every one has gone down from internal or external forces.

Imagine for a moment the Midianite traders playing Jesus' role of putting out a hand to raise someone up. Imagine again – for whom do you put out a hand to raise them up? Does the commercialization of the raising here discount it as a raising by the hand of G*D (recognized later)? What limits we put on "real" raising or "real" salvation!

When you have the time, instead of considering this story in light of Matthew's, try considering Matthew's story in light of this one with Peter, the best loved, being raised after looking down or back at the storms that had just taken place within the relationships just experienced in the boat-bounded expressions of fear.