Sibling Rivalry

We continue reading the Bible with our second Genesis reading today, the story of Joseph and his brothers, and their jealousy erupting in their throwing him into a pit. For us it prompts a study of “Shalom,” most often translated, “peace,” but meaning much more a complete state of well-being wherein everything is right with the family or with the world. It begins with the creation as “very good,” and the Garden of Eden. The theme of humans falling short and God working for Shalom continues throughout the entire scripture. Human failure happens in families today much as it happened in the family of Jacob with all of the brothers aligned against Joseph. But in the long story of Joseph, when Joseph ends up in Egypt and the brothers come to get food to relieve their suffering during the famine, Shalom takes place. Joseph’s attitude is that his brothers meant to do him harm, but God turned that into good. On the eve of Martin Luther King Day, we remember King’s dream of Shalom. We, too, are called to do our part to help the Shalom of God’s plan come about.