8 March 2012
Today is also the Feast Day of St. John of God.
Please refer to the link on the right for more information about this loving saint.
Our story today tells of Joseph interpreting Pharaoh's Dreams.
The scriptural basis for this story can be found in Genesis 41.
"After two years, Pharaoh saw a dream. He thought himself to be standing above a river, from which ascended seven cows, exceedingly beautiful and stout. And they pastured in marshy places. Likewise, another seven emerged from the river, filthy and thoroughly emaciated. And they pastured on the same bank of the river, in green places. And they devoured those whose appearance and condition of body was so wonderful. Pharaoh, having been awakened, slept again, and he saw another dream. Seven ears of grain sprung up on one stalk, full and well-formed. Likewise, other ears of grain, of the same number, rose up, thin and struck with blight, devouring all the beauty of the first. Pharaoh, when he awakened after his rest, and when morning arrived, being terrified with fear, sent to all the interpreters of Egypt and to all of the wise men. And when they were summoned, he explained to them his dream; but there was no one who could interpret it. Then at last the chief cupbearer, remembering, said, “I confess my sin. The king, being angry with his servants, ordered me and the chief miller of grain to be forced into the prison of the leader of the military. There, in one night, both of us saw a dream presaging the future. In that place, there was a Hebrew, a servant of the same commander of the military, to whom we explained our dreams. Whatever we heard was proven afterwards by the event of the matter. For I was restored to my office, and he was suspended on a cross.” Immediately, by the king’s authority, Joseph was led out of prison, and they shaved him. And changing his apparel, they presented him to him. And he said to him, “I have seen dreams, and there is no one who can unfold them. I have heard that you are very wise at interpreting these.” Joseph responded, “Apart from me, God will respond favorably to Pharaoh.” Therefore, Pharaoh explained what he had seen: “I thought myself to be standing on the bank of a river, and seven cows climbed up from the river, exceedingly beautiful and full of flesh. And they grazed in a pasture of a marshy greenery. And behold, there followed after these, another seven cows, with such deformity and emaciation as I had never seen in the land of Egypt. These devoured and consumed the first, giving no indication of being full. But they remained in the same state of emaciation and squalor. Awakening, but being weighed down into sleep again, I saw a dream. Seven ears of grain sprang up on one stalk, full and very beautiful. Likewise, another seven, thin and struck with blight, rose up from the stalk. And they devoured the beauty of the first. I explained this dream to the interpreters, and there is no one who can unfold it.” Joseph responded: “The dream of the king is one. What God will do, he has revealed to Pharaoh. The seven beautiful cows, and the seven full ears of grain, are seven years of abundance. And so the force of the dreams is understood to be the same. Likewise, the seven thin and emaciated cows, which ascended after them, and the seven thin ears of grain, which were struck with the burning wind, are seven approaching years of famine. These will be fulfilled in this order. Behold, there will arrive seven years of great fertility throughout the entire land of Egypt. After this, there will follow another seven years, of such great barrenness that all the former abundance will be delivered into oblivion. For the famine will consume all the land, and the greatness of this destitution will cause the greatness of the abundance to be lost. Now, as to what you saw the second time, it is a dream pertaining to the same thing. It is an indication of its firmness, because the word of God shall be done, and it shall be completed swiftly. Now therefore, let the king provide a wise and industrious man, and place him over the land of Egypt, so that he may appoint overseers throughout all the regions. And let a fifth part of the fruits, throughout the seven fertile years that now have already begun to occur, be gathered into storehouses. And let all the grain be stored away, under the power of Pharaoh, and let it be kept in the cities. And let it be prepared for the future famine of seven years, which will oppress Egypt, and then the land will not be consumed by destitution.” The counsel pleased Pharaoh and all his ministers. And he said to them, “Would we be able to find another such man, who is full of the Spirit of God?” Therefore, he said to Joseph: “Because God has revealed to you all that you have said, would I be able to find anyone wiser and as much like you? You will be over my house, and to the authority of your mouth, all the people will show obedience. Only in one way, in the throne of the kingdom, will I go before you.” And again, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, I have appointed you over the entire land of Egypt.”
Readings of the Day:
Jeremiah 17:5-10
Psalm 1:1-4, 6
Luke 16:19-31
Collect for the Day:
"O God, who filled Saint John of God with a spirit of compassion, grant, we pray, that, giving ourselves to works of charity, we may merit to be found among the elect in your Kingdom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
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