(Please come and stop in for a while at Donna Ata's retirement party today, Saturday July 10 from 12:00-3:00pm. Celebrate her retirement after 27 years of service to our community.) Joseph brothers were jealous of him and resented how close he was to their father, Jacob. They plotted to kill him and instead sold him into slavery with the hopes it would be his death. Joseph became the pharaoh's advisor and eventually the pharaoh named him as governor over all the land. His wise administration helped all of Egypt survive the great famine and Joseph through his work as governor was eventually had his family restored to him. In today's first reading we pick up the story of Joseph at the death of his father, Jacob. His brothers began to panic and were afraid that Joseph would now exact revenge upon them for their wickedness. Though their contrition is imperfect, meaning it is a fear of punishment rather a perfect contrition based in love, never the less Joseph accepts their apology. He says to them the famous line, "Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good." This is a wonderful reminder to us, that God even uses our sinfulness to accomplish His will. God is going to bring about good. The bigger question is not whether or not God will in the end do His will. Rather whether we will cooperate with God and help to accomplish His will or He will accomplish His will despite our efforts to the contrary. ............................................................................................................................................................. (Venga y pase un rato en la fiesta de jubilación de Donna Ata hoy, sábado 10 de julio de 12:00-3:00pm. Celebre su jubilación después de 27 años de servicio a nuestra comunidad). Los hermanos José estaban celosos de él y resentidos por lo cerca que estaba de su padre, Jacob. Conspiraron para matarlo y, en cambio, lo vendieron como esclavo con la esperanza de que fuera su muerte. José se convirtió en el consejero del faraón y, finalmente, el faraón lo nombró gobernador de toda la tierra. Su sabia administración ayudó a todo Egipto a sobrevivir a la gran hambruna y, a través de su trabajo como gobernador, José finalmente recuperó a su familia. En la primera lectura de hoy retomamos la historia de José en la muerte de su padre, Jacob. Sus hermanos comenzaron a entrar en pánico y temieron que José ahora se vengara de ellos por su maldad. Aunque su contrición es imperfecta, lo que significa que es un miedo al castigo más bien una contrición perfecta basada en el amor, sin embargo, José acepta su disculpa. Les dice la famosa frase: "Aunque quisiste hacerme daño, Dios lo hizo para bien". Este es un maravilloso recordatorio para nosotros, que Dios incluso usa nuestra pecaminosidad para cumplir Su voluntad. Dios traerá el bien. La pregunta más importante no es si Dios finalmente hará su voluntad o no. Más bien si cooperaremos con Dios y ayudaremos a cumplir Su voluntad o Él cumplirá Su voluntad a pesar de nuestros esfuerzos por lo contrario.