Joseph the Dreamer

Joseph Sold Grain to His Brothers

Joseph’s childhood must have been filled with an abundance of daddy love, for Israel (another name for Jacob) loved him the most of all his eleven sons. Joseph, the “master dreamer”, was Israel’s son of his old age and of his favorite (and deceased) wife Rachel. We can picture Joseph sitting on his father’s knee, bathing in father love, while Israel shared with Joseph the Word of God and the great love God had for him. Yet, Joseph also experienced pain during his childhood.

We know Joseph suffered deep wounds during his childhood, wounds that would leave many of us emotionally and spiritually injured for an entire lifetime, yet he was able to overcome them. How many of us could overcome the loss of a mother during our childhood and the deep hatred and jealousy of our 10 older brothers? And yet Joseph not only bore this pain, he rose above it in such magnificence that he would eventually perform miraculous deeds for his people. Of course, there is only one way anyone can overcome such pain – through the healing balm of God’s love. A love that Joseph learned from the tender relationship he enjoyed with his Father Israel. It was out of this love that a wisdom was born in Joseph, a wisdom that he would carry in his heart for his entire 110 years on this earth.

We know Joseph’s story. His brothers sold this little dreamer into a slavery that eventually led him into Egypt. In Egypt he escaped many snares designed to entrap him, yet he remains faithful to God – turning to God in all things. Through all his trials in Egypt (20 years), Joseph’s faith remains a constant and this faith opens the door for a multitude of heavenly blessings. Eventually Joseph would forgive his brothers and save his people from starvation. In the end, it was Joseph’s bones the Israelites carried with them as Moses led them out of Egypt all those years later. (Exodus 13:19)

To ponder the fruit’s produced by Joseph’s deep reliance upon God potentially leads us to visit our own role in God’s plan for humanity. After all, it was Joseph’s turning to God that eventually saved his people from starving. We can assume that Joseph had no idea the extent he was being used by God, all he knew was that he needed to turn to God in all things. And it was this surrender that created the space where God worked his miracles.

So what is it that Joseph had that we could benefit from? Well, Joseph had a father who loved him and shared his love of God with him. While many of us may have experienced heartache in our relationship with our own parents, it is God’s love that has the power to bring us through any trial or pain of brokenheartedness – even when it is the pain experienced from the lack of our parent’s love. After all, our parents can only give us what they have received. God’s love, however, has the power to heal whatever wounds we may carry in our heart, especially wounds that frustrate our attempts to participate in his plan for our lives.

Just as God’s love healed the wounds in Joseph’s heart, the pain of the loss of his mother and the hatred of his brothers, it too can heal our hearts so that we can participate in the birth of a better life for ourselves and those who follow us. By inviting forgiveness and acceptance into our hearts, like Joseph did, we open the door to greater love in our lives, a door that brings forth peace of heart. Once our hearts are at peace we become free to share with our children, our grandchildren and the world the plan God has for our lives – which remember is for our good.

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11

And unlike Joseph, we now have Jesus Christ, the corner-stone, living inside of us! Making it easier for us to find our way towards God’s loving embrace. God has given us his Son, offering to us an inheritance beyond all measure – an inheritance that includes a vineyard to cultivate. A vineyard for us to cultivate the fruits of joy, hope, forgiveness and of love. However, this vineyard is a lease…

Yes, God has leased to us the most beautiful of all vineyards with the condition that we produce it’s rightful fruits. We are called to participate in God’s plan and, in return, we will receive his blessings. Let us continue to pray, fast and offer almsgiving during this Lenten season so that we continue to grow in our faith and relationship with God. Let us be like Joseph, let us surrender to God and place all our trust in him. I believe God will work miracles in my family if I do so, just like he did for Joseph, and I believe he will do the same for you and yours.

Sacred heart of Jesus – have mercy on us.

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About the Author

Carolyn Berghuis MS, ND, CTN is a best-selling author, inspirational speaker, traditional naturopath, and free-lance Catholic writer. Carolyn is currently pursuing an MA in Pastoral Theology at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology. Carolyn also holds a BS in Mathematics, a MS in Holistic Nutrition and a doctoral degree in Naturopathy. www.CarolynBerghuis.com

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6 Comments

  1. Thank you Ms. Carolyn.

    Your reflection of the readings today touch me much.

    I can relate myself of the story of Joseph, going through hardships and pain for His better plans, for Him to be used for His glory.

    Really God works in crooked ways, to make things straight.

    I praise and glorify God, being Him entering into my life.

    Thank you for this wonderful reflections.

  2. Thank you Carol. We pray that we will bear the right fruits in our Christian live. God bless you.

  3. Interesting enough the lineage of Jesus ( Matthew 1: 1-17) goes from Jacob to Judah and not to Reuben who tried to save his brother or Joseph who did save the entire nation from starvation . In perspective today we don’t know where we will lead our own children and what they will do in God’s plan for their lives Jer 29:11 (which is my sister’s favorite Bible quote) or what we do to effect others. All we have is today to effect change. The past is done and we can do nothing about those circumstances. It is up to us to make the most of the cards we are dealt and as Joseph did to forgive and do whatever good we can do. Thanks for a wonderful reflection.

  4. I am on travel and forgot my daily reading/reflection books. I came across your reflection and feel so blessed for the day. We are on our way to an ultrasound to check on our soon-to-be “Joseph”. I am filled with awe at God’s goodness to sit here with my sweet husband that I know is going to be such a loving father to our Joseph, much like Jacob was.

    I will be coming back to enjoy more morning reflections with you. Thank you, and God bless.

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