Patristic Wisdom: Looking to the Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

When Joseph’s brothers saw their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil we did to him.” So they came to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying, ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph, “I beg you, forgive the injustice of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.’ ” Now, forgive the injustice of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.” So Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for I belong to God. But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Now, therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your households.” Thus he comforted them and spoke to their heart. (Gen 50:15–21)


Notice, however, I ask you, at this point in the text the brothers’ apprehension about Joseph and the fear gripping their minds.… Their minds were greatly disturbed by fear, and under the influence of conscience, they were at a loss as to what to do. Accordingly, the text says, once they noticed their father’s passing they suspected that Joseph might inflict a due penalty on them for their actions against him…. See by now how they turn their own accusers. Notice how powerful is the accusation of conscience. You well know that you have committed a dastardly injustice in doing such evil things. “Bear no grudge for the injustice of the servants of your father’s God.” Do you see how, under pressure from no one, they turn their own accusers? Your father said, “Forgive them for doing such evil things, and bear no grudge for the injustice of the servants of your father’s God.” This remarkably virtuous man, however, was so far from calling them to account for what had been done to him that he was put out by their words: “Joseph burst into tears when they spoke to him,” the text says. “They approached him and said, ‘Behold, we are your slaves.’”

See how great a thing virtue is, how powerful and invincible, and how profound the weakness of evil. I mean, look, the one who endured such suffering reigns as king whereas those who submitted their brother to such indignities beg to be slaves of the one given by them into servitude. But listen to Joseph’s forbearance to his brothers in wanting to console them in every way and in persuading them that they had not sinned against him.… Don’t be apprehensive or anxious, he says: “‘I belong to God,’” and in imitation of my Lord I strive to reward with kindness those who are maliciously disposed to me—“‘I belong to God,’” after all. Then to show how great is the favor he enjoys from God he says, You acted against me with evil intent, but God turned everything to good for me. Hence Paul also said, “For those who love God all things work together for good.” “All things,” he says. What is meant by “all things”? Opposition and apparent disappointment—even these things are turned into good, which is exactly what happened with this remarkable man. In fact, what was done by his brothers had the particular effect of bringing him the kingship, thanks to the creative God’s wisdom transforming all their wickedness into good.

John Chrysostom, Homilies on Genesis 67.18–19