Give me the grace, Good Lord,
to think my worst enemies my best friends,
for the brethren of Joseph could never have done him so much good with their love and favor
as they did him with their malice and hatred.
St. Thomas More, Prayer written in the Tower of London
For his trust in and loyalty to God, Joseph is sold into slavery by his own brethren (Gen. 37) and cast into prison by his own master (Gen. 39).
It would have been easy for Joseph to lose faith in the Lord, but his persistence in listening to and proclaiming the word of God eventually places him at the head of a mighty empire (Gen. 40-41).
As he enjoyed this long awaited reversal of fortunes, who would have blamed Joseph had he responded to the entreaties of his treacherous family with contempt and righteous indignation?
Instead, after chastening them with cleverly devised trials (Gen. 42-44), he reveals himself to them as God’s instrument to save them from famine (Gen. 45).
If, in the coming days, we suffer the malice and hatred of those who would stifle our witness, let us recall that God may send our best friends to us in the guise of enemies, and that he may be calling us to bless them in return.
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