May the Lord bless you all. I think it’s safe to say that most of us have had moments when we look at our lives and ask: “How did I end up here?” Sometimes, things don’t make sense until much, much later. Maybe we’re in a season of struggle, or we’ve been hurt by people we trusted—especially those close to us. But today’s readings remind us of something powerful: even in the pain, even in betrayal, God is at work. And when we look back, often with surprise, we can see how His hand was guiding everything all along.
Just think about Joseph in the first reading. He had every reason to give up on God. His own brothers sold him. They left him for dead, ripped from his family, from his home—and all he got in return was slavery and prison. He spent years in a foreign land, suffering through one injustice after another. And yet, when he comes face to face with the very brothers who betrayed him… what does he do? He weeps. He forgives. And he says something extraordinary: “God sent me here ahead of you… to save lives.”
That’s not just grace—it’s divine perspective. Joseph could see now, after years of hardship, that God had a plan. A strange plan, a painful one, but one that would eventually feed a whole nation and save his family. That’s not something you can plan or even imagine. That’s God at work in the mystery of how he can both respect free will while simultaneously intervene with his grace and mercy. And we know that only God can do that.
The Psalmist makes of Joseph an example of this: “Joseph, sold as a slave…”—not shying away from the pain—but then ends with Joseph as “lord of the house,” the one in charge. The one who went from chains to leadership. That’s the marvel the Lord has done. It’s not a quick fix when we’re talking about pain and trauma. It’s a slow unfolding of good being brought about even from an evil that has been done. Isn’t the crucifixion of our Lord the highest example of this? Jesus who was sold for thirty pieces of silver and then nailed to a cross? Yet all the while, God was reconciling himself to humanity and offering them a way out of eternal damnation through mercy and love.
In today’s gospel, Jesus sends out the apostles. They’re going to proclaim the Kingdom, cure the sick, cast out demons… but Jesus doesn’t let them pack a suitcase. No extra tunic, no money. Why? Because this mission isn’t about comfort. It’s not about control. It’s about trust. Trust that God will provide. Trust that even when people reject them—and He warns them that some will—God is still working.
And again, notice something: the apostles are being sent. Just like Joseph was sent ahead into Egypt. God’s chosen ones are often not given easy paths. Instead, they’re given purpose. And sometimes that purpose only becomes clear on the other side of suffering.
So what does this mean for us? It means if you’ve been hurt, if you feel like you’ve been put in a place that doesn’t make sense, don’t give up. Don’t assume God’s forgotten you. Joseph had no clue what God was doing when he was thrown into a pit—but years later, he could look his brothers in the eyes and say: “It was all for something.”
And if you’re serving the Lord—whether in ministry, in your family, at work—don’t be surprised if it’s hard. That’s part of the call. But it’s also part of the glory. Sometimes, what looks like a setback is actually God setting something up that is wonderful and enduring in preciousness. We will always remember, that God honours any suffering we go through, and will never abandon us, even if the world does. Keep on fighting the good fight of faith my dear brothers and sisters. + Go in peace.
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