God Meant it for Good, An Act of Divine Providence

Dear brothers and sisters, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

A Sincere Act of Forgiveness

The first reading from the book of Genesis presents to us the story of Joseph’s reassurance of the brothers of his forgiveness towards them. Joseph’s brothers had come to him to beg for forgiveness for the criminal wrongdoings they had done to him and how they cruelly treated him. The brothers feared Joseph would retaliate and pay them back in their own coins since their father had died. Instead, he forgave them from his heart and promised to provide for them and their children. Joseph’s attitude was a sincere act of forgiveness.

We would recall that Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him because of his dreams and plotted to kill him. They eventually sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials and commander of the guard (Gen. 37:12-28;36). God’s favor was with Joseph in Egypt, and everything he undertook was successful until he suffered from the treacherous hands of Potiphar’s wife, whom he refused to have an illicit affair with. He was imprisoned after a false accusation from Potiphar’s wife.

Therefore, after their father’s death and realizing their treacherous and cruel behaviors and attitudes toward Joseph, it was natural for Joseph’s brothers to be afraid. But their fears were dissuaded by Joseph’s promise of love and care.

Divine Providence

Joseph’s response to his brothers was, “Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good.” His assessment and understanding were that God had ordered his life’s journey according to His plan. Thus, God is still worthy of his trust despite his adversities, his brothers’ betrayal, false accusation, imprisonment, and other inhuman treatments he received. Joseph’s mindset of continued trust in God was shown in the names he gave his children. Manasseh means, “God has made me completely forget my troubles and my father’s house,” and Ephraim means, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” Joseph’s attitude is the attitude of one who understands and believes in divine providence.

Divine Providence is an understanding that God orders our being and our lives according to His will and plan. When we understand things that happen to us as acts of divine providence, we become more disposed to accepting and working them out toward a better solution. Sometimes, it is not easy to interpret or understand certain events of our lives as the divine plan. But the story of Joseph is an eye-opener, and his attitude is an example to follow.

As Christians, just like Joseph, God has His plan for us. Things in our lives do not happen as products of chance or coincidences. But they happen as providential acts, ordered and designed by God. They are God’s plan for us to fit into His providential will, even those events of our lives that seem like plots from the underworld. St Paul tells us that everything works for good for those who love and trust God (Rm. 8:28).

Acknowledging God

In the Gospel reading today, Jesus said to his disciples, “Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father. But whoever denies me before others, I will deny before my heavenly Father.” There are different ways of acknowledging God or denying Him before the people. One of the ways is living according to divine providence, accepting God’s will and plan for our lives, in adversity, in surplus, poverty, riches, sickness, health, tribulation, persecution, or triumph. As St. Paul would say, in all these, we show we are more than conquerors through him who loves us, God (Rm. 8:37). In so doing, we become an example for others to follow.

Always remember that Jesus loves you!

[Readings: Gn 49:29-32; 50:15-26a; Mt 10:24-33]