August 18, 2020

​Daily Lectionary Readings for Year A

Continue reading Genesis 43-46.  In today's passage, one of Jacob's sons, Judah, pleads with Joshua to take the place of his youngest brother and bear the punishment for a crime that he did not commit.  Judah was looking after his youngest brother Benjamin and was willing to sacrifice his safety for the safety of his brother.

In the early 1970s, there were six of us in the car.  I was sitting in the front seat between my sister Jodie and my brother Eric.  I don't know if the car had seatbelts - I don't remember us wearing seatbelts much in the '70s.  It was snowy and icy, and as we made our way through the traffic light, a truck was unable to stop at the red light.  The semi skidded uncontrolled directly for us.  As my sister made some split-second, life-saving driving decisions that reduced the collision to the back of the car, my brother instinctively threw himself on me.  I can still feel his weight, holding me down, as the car spun out of control, doing everything he could to protect me from harm.  

Who has been Judah for you?  Has someone put their safety aside to save you?  Not everyone has those instincts.  Pray today about those times you have helped others or others have helped you.

Peace,
Dean