And Joseph said unto his brothers, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
Read Chapter 45
Ambrose of Milan
AD 397
“Come to me,” because I have come near to you, yes, even so far that I made myself a sharer in your nature by taking on flesh. At least do not flee a partaker of your fellowship, if you do not know the Author of your salvation. “And they came to him, and he said, ‘I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, and let it not seem to you a hard case that you sold me here; for God sent me before you for life.’ ” What fraternal devotion! … Christ would even excuse his brothers’ crime and say that it was God’s providence and not humanity’s wickedness, since he was not offered up to death by humans but was sent by the Lord to life. What else is the meaning of that intervention made by our Lord Jesus Christ, who excelled all his brothers in holiness? When he was on the cross, Jesus said in behalf of the people, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” … And when they were startled and panicstricken and thought they saw a spirit, aga...
Nearer; that no one might hear what he was going to say respecting their fault. (Menochius)
It is thus we ought to treat those who have injured us. He excuses his brethren as much as possible. (Haydock) See chap. l. 20.
“Don’t be hard on yourselves; don’t think,” Joseph says, “that you did these things to me out of your intent. It was not so much from your malice in my regard as from God’s wisdom and ineffable love that I should come here and now be in a favorable position to provide nourishment to you and the whole country.”
