Catechesis Notes for the Week — The Weakness of the Fathers and the Lord’s Faithfulness—This week we return to the continuous readings from the Old Testament. Throughout this week’s narrative we see the weakness of the Old Testament fathers, but also the faithfulness of the Lord. He had promised to be with them, to call them to repentance for sin, and to sustain them by His grace despite their ongoing struggles. This is of great comfort to us in our baptismal pilgrimage. In Jacob Returns to Isaac His Father we hear the account of Rachel’s death in childbirth with Benjamin. Before she died, she called the child “Son of My Sorrow”, but Jacob confessed his faith, even during grief, naming him “Benjamin” which means, “Son of the Right Hand.” After the listing of Jacob’s twelve sons, we learn of the death of Isaac. Joseph was called to be a prophet of the Lord. The Lord revealed himself to Joseph through dreams. This calling inspired jealousy among Joseph’s brothers. Joseph’s Brothers Sell Him into Slavery out of a self-righteous faith. As the narrative unfolds, we see the weakness of Jacob’s fourth born son and his offspring in the account of Judah and Tamar. Through the sordid details of chapter 38, we learn that Judah unwittingly commits fornication with his daughter-in-law, believing her to be a prostitute. The long running narrative of Joseph continues in Joseph Is a Slave in Egypt and Joseph Interprets Dreams in Prison. Throughout his sojourn in Egypt, the Lord was with Joseph, sustaining his faith and working His good in Joseph’s life and service to others. Though blessed as a faithful servant of Potiphar, he is falsely accused of adultery by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison. While in prison, the Lord prospers his work. Joseph is given the opportunity to serve and continue the work of a prophet, interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh’s butler and baker. The story of Joseph and the Lord’s faithfulness to him in suffering are an example of that which St. Paul would later write: “God works in all things for our good, to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).CP230108