Was it a coincidence that Joseph’s coat was of many colours?
I am sensing from this side of the Atlantic that Charlottesville has become a moment when the US is looking closely at itself in relation to how its citizens view each other.
My mind goes to Northern Ireland and situations here in England when we as people have allowed our differences to become a focus of fear rather than love.
A few years ago I found in the story of Joseph a message of forgiveness and reconciliation for us all. You may know that Joseph was a bit of a ‘boaster’ who annoyed his older brothers so much that when an opportunity came they sold him into slavery. That was not the end of the story and in time Joseph became a government minister in the country in which he was a slave.
That is still not the end of story for back in his brothers’ country there was a famine and in need of food, they went to the country in which Joseph lived. It was to Joseph they pleaded for help though they did not recognise him. After a series of events, Joseph had to decide whether he would reconcile with his brothers or forever be at enmity with them. He chose to be reconciled and forgave them.
This story speaks so much to our human condition, to divisions within families, communities and nations. We do wrong to each other and we need to find a way back. I know of no other way than forgiveness.
The brothers, including Joseph, symbolise the nations of the world, the division symbolises our failure to recognise each other and to the shun the other.
The famine symbolises our need of the other and the other becomes our saviour if they so chose. The truth is we are all one yet we have allowed ourselves to be separated from each other. When we recognise that we are one and shed tears for our failings then we experience the power of reconciliation.
One thing I hadn’t noticed until tonight was that Joseph’s coat was of many colours, now what might that symbolise?
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