(Please read the Scripture passage before reading the homily.)
God heals our dysfunctionality. Take the story of Joseph. He was the especially loved by his father over all the other sons. He wore the special expensive set of clothes his father had given him, and he was hated by his brothers. Joseph, then kidnapped by the brothers and sold into slavery. He was taken to Egypt. What will happen next?
If you are thinking about the gospel story in Matthew’s gospel (21:33-46), you may have some idea of what will happen. Both stories have similar points. The rejected person becomes the hero of the day.
Joseph’s brothers had planned to kill him. Instead, they sold him to some travelling traders. God, however, had other plans. Joseph, the refugee Canaanite, became the vice-regent of Egypt. In the process, Joseph and his father got a healthier relationship together and Joseph’s brothers gained new respect for Joseph. Joseph the castaway learned to forgive and became Joseph the benevolent savior.
We need the people we disdain, the ones we reject. This is true on our personal levels, and it also true on our national and international levels. Russia, for example, needs Ukraine, but we likewise need those we harass, persecute, or look down upon.
This does not mean that we have to agree with everything that others do, but it does mean that we are not to despise them. We cannot condone the evil others do, but we may not despise them for it.
We have many reasons for living as family. Eventually Joseph and his brothers learned to live as one family with proper respect for each other. Eventually, we hope, the Russian and Ukrainian people will be able to live together peaceably with proper respect for each other.
Russians and Ukrainians share the same religious beliefs. These beliefs are closer to those of Catholics, than the beliefs of Catholics are to Protestants. The present world conflict is pitting Christians against Christians, brothers against brothers in a dysfunctional religious family. If the story of Joseph in Genesis is typical of our present situation, then we can hope that God will eventually make us properly functional members of God’s family.