Number Two

Seeing the world through God eyes

Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13A

Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age; and he had made him a long tunic. When his brothers saw that their father loved him best of all his sons, they hated him so much that they would not even greet him. One day, when his brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem, Israel said to Joseph,  “Your brothers, you know, are tending our flocks at Shechem. Get ready; I will send you to them.” So Joseph went after his brothers and caught up with them in Dothan. They noticed him from a distance, and before he came up to them, they plotted to kill him. They said to one another: “Here comes that master dreamer! Come on, let us kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns here; we could say that a wild beast devoured him. We shall then see what comes of his dreams.”

          Boys and girls, if you could pick between the following two options, which would you like or prefer? Listen carefully, and raise your hand if you like Number One or Number Two. First choice: would you like to be Superman or be a kindergartner? Second choice: would you rather have a vacation in Disney World or play in your back yard? Third choice: would you prefer to be the pope or to be an altar server? Fourth choice: someday would you like to drive a Hummer or drive a Fort Escort? Fifth choice: would you rather be Peyton Manning and win the Superbowl or be Fr. John and throw the football with the Immaculate Conception students at recess? Now, here’s the last choice: would you prefer to live in a castle or live in a tent? Most people would choose Superman, Disney World, the pope, the Hummer, Peyton Manning and a castle. But what do you think God would choose? How many think that God would choose option Number One or option Number Two? It’s kinda strange, but if you study the Bible carefully and watch Jesus closely, you’ll see that God usually picks Number Two, not Number One.  God thinks differently than we do.

          This is the point of the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors. Joseph is the youngest son, the runt of the litter, of Jacob, who had 12 sons. Joseph’s 11 older brothers were stronger and bigger and smarter and had more toys than Joseph did. They probably drove Hummers. All Joseph had were his dreams and a really cool coat. Now, this wasn’t part of the story today, but later we learn whom does God chooses to save the whole family. It wasn’t Ruben or Judah or any of the other 11, but it was little Joseph. It’s so strange, but God often picks Number Two – or in this case Number 12 – to do his will. God often chooses very differently than we do.

          Boys and girls, I want to tell you a little secret. No one person will be good at everything. You may be good at some things, but you’re not good at everything. For example, raise your hand if you’re NOT good at basketball. Now raise your hand if you’re not good at spelling. Raise your hand if you’re not very good with math – don’t worry, I’m not either! How many of you are not good at learning Spanish? Raise your hand if you’re not good at English! Now, does that mean that God does not love you? No, it means exactly the opposite. God always and especially loves those whom the world ignores to do his will. You are like Joseph, and God has a very special plan for your life.

          Boys and girls, as you look around at the world, you know what you like – Superman, the pope and castles. But also ask yourself: what does God like? You might see a very different world.

          Praised be Jesus Christ!