“I am Joseph, your brother.” These words from Genesis were the title of a biography of Cardinal Bernardin. They were also the first words spoken by Pope John XXIII when he met with the Chief Rabbi in Rome. What these three scenes have in common is the transcending of pain and suffering. Joseph does not dwell on the harm done to him by his brothers but sees that God used the distressing situation to some divine purpose. By invoking that image, Cardinal Bernardin who experienced unjust accusations and Pope John XXIII recalling the dreadful history of Christian treatment of the Jews held hope that God will take the painful experience in the past and bring it to some good end. What of our distressing past?
JULY132017
By Church Staff