Today's readings feature two stories of envy, one real, the other a parable. In the first reading from Genesis 27 we see the story of Joseph. His father, Israel "loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age." Naturally, the brothers didn't much like this. They were filled with envy, so they plotted to kill him....
I'm sure you've heard the old expression "No good deed goes unpunished." Ain't it the truth? Just take a look at the Scriptures. The prophets of old were simply doing what they were told by God to do. It didn't end well for them. Jeremiah questions God about this in our first reading today from Jeremiah 18. "Must good be...
Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar,
near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
Jacob's well was there.
Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well.
It was about noon.
I don't know about you, but I find that, more often than not, something is not quite right in my relationship with God. It is always my fault, this I know. But I also know that God is always ready and willing to patch things up. Our first reading today from Isaiah 1 speaks to that. More on that in...
