Holy Spirit of God, help me not dread, but welcome and nurture others …

Exodus 1: 8 – 22

When he was finally welcomed and nurtured by the Egyptian people, Joseph the Israelite arguably saved the whole of Egypt and all of Israel’s family from extinction by famine. If he and his family had continued to be welcomed by the Egyptian populace who knows what good could have come from continued collaboration between these two nations. Instead, a new Egyptian king who did not know Joseph (did not pay attention to God’s intervention in their history) along with his people dreaded  the Israelites and chose to oppress Joseph’s people, and the lives of the Israelites became bitter with ruthless forced labour. The end result of this dread-full mistreatment or God’s people was the fall of the dynasty of Egyptian pharaohs. Who do I not know and so dread because of my own ignorance or the inconvenience of ‘knowing’ them? Whom am I (are we) being called to welcome and nurture relationship with? Help me (us) not dread but welcome and nurture others.  


Our help is in the name of the Lord who made heaven and earth.   (Psalm 124)


It is only when we stand up, with all our failings and sufferings, and try to support others rather than withdraw into ourselves, that we can fully live the life of community.
― Jean Vanier, Community And Growth
                                                                                                                
www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca  
Soli gloriam dei.