“Now, do not be distressed or reproach yourselves because you sold me hither; it was to save life that God sent me ahead of you.”
With these words
does Joseph reveal not just his hidden identity to his brothers in the biblical
story, but his view of life. Rather than
focus on the fact that his brothers sought to and almost killed him, that he
suffered as a slave, that he was accused of crimes he didn’t commit, Joseph’s
priority is that he ended up in a position where he could save countless people
from the famine sweeping across the world – and he is going to save his
brothers as well.
Those of us who can
remember September 11th, 2001, will never forget the horrible,
gut-wrenching, sickening, images of that day.
Evil on full display.
And also, will we
never forget in the days afterwards, the show of American pride and
values. True patriotism on full
display. Kindness and togetherness and
fellowship. Volunteerism. Compassion and consolation. The very best of America, the expression of
all we hold dear.
May we never forget
the attack on our soil, the innocent lives lost, the heroes and their
sacrifices. And neither may we ever
forget the expression of, the choice of life that came after. As a people, as a nation, in the darkest of
times and at all times, may we always appeal to the very best that is within us
and choose the pursuit of happiness, choose liberty, and choose life.
May this be the will
of the Divine which we aid in making manifest today and always, and let us say,
Amen.
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