Genesis 44: 33

"Let your servant stay, then, as my lord's slave in place of the boy, I implore you . . . "

Reflection by Anthony B. Robinson

This is part of the long and wonderful story of Joseph's reconciliation with his brothers. Here Joseph tests his brothers and perhaps himself as well, to see if, having gotten older, they have also gotten wiser. They have. They are no longer the jealous brothers who threw him into a pit and sold him to slave traders. They are older and wiser.

Another of my favorite older but wiser stories is the David Lynch movie, "The Straight Story." It tells the true story of Alvin Straight. Too old to drive a car, Alvin makes a trip of several hundred miles on his green and yellow John Deere riding mower. Alvin travels to visit, and make amends, with his ailing brother, Lyle. His slow, precarious journey is peppered with amazing encounters.

In both stories, that of Joseph and his brothers, and Alvin Straight and Lyle, a journey is necessary to the reconciliation process. I suppose that's because a broken relationship means distance has come between people. A journey must be made to bridge the distance.

Is there someone you need to make a journey to see and be reconciled with? Maybe that means a real road trip, or maybe just a walk to another room or office?

In Jesus, God initiates and makes the journey to us, closing the distance that has opened up, finding us, claiming us as his own. He comes on a first century riding mower, that is, a donkey. Because he’s made the journey, maybe we can too.

Prayer

When there's a reconciliation journey to be made, we thank you, Lord, that we do not go alone, that there is one who goes ahead of us, even Jesus. Amen.

About the Author Anthony B. Robinson, a United Church of Christ minister, is a speaker, teacher and writer. His newest book is Stewardship for Vital Congregations, published by The Pilgrim Press. Read his weekly reflections on the current lectionary texts at www.anthonybrobinson.com/ by clicking on Weekly Reading.

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