Genesis 41:55-57; 42:5-7, 17-24 / Matthew 10:1-7 (2011)
The story of Joseph whom we heard about in the 1st reading is a moving and inspiring story.
Jacob had 12 sons and Joseph was his favourite son, and his brothers were jealous and they called him "the dreamer" and they were not at all pleased with his dreams and despised him.
And they eventually found an opportunity to get rid of him by selling him off to some traders and then told his father that he was killed by wild animals.
But Joseph's dreams eventually came true when his brothers came before him and bowed low before him, although they did not recognise him.
Joseph could have taken this opportunity to settle scores with his brothers who did such harm to him in the past.
Yet, Joseph did not return evil for evil but instead he slowly revealed his identity to his brothers as we will hear in the readings of the next few days.
Maybe we can say that blood is thicker than water and that family is still family for better or for worse, although it also cannot be denied that it is in the family that we can experience the deepest hurts.
Nonetheless, if charity begins at home, then it is in the family that love must be nurtured and nourished and forgiveness must be the thread that binds family members together.
With love and forgiveness, the family will be a sign of the kingdom of God in which the home is a place of love and care, and of forgiveness and healing.