Homilies on Genesis 46–67

Homily 63

HOMILY 63 "On account of]oseph the chiefjailer gave no heed to anything."l E [540] want today to present to you, dearly beloved, the remainder of what was said to you yesterday and resume the story ofJoseph. You realize, ofcourse, that since the sermon yesterday went beyond proper limits we were unable to go on further, but, rather, called a halt at the point where he was cast into prison by the chief cook on account of the Egyptian woman's accusation. Hence today we must teach you, beloved, what befell him in prison. You see, when he was thrown into prison and was handed over to the chief jailer, even there such favor came his way from God that he was entrusted with complete control by the chief jailer. "On account ofJoseph the chiefjailer gave no heed to anything;' the text says. (2) You notice how even when Joseph encountered troubles he had no sense of distress; instead, the creative wisdom of God transformed all his distress. Just as a pearl reveals its peculiar beauty even if someone buries it in the mire, so too virtue, wherever you cast it, [541] reveals its characteristic power, be it in servitude, in prison, in distress, or in prosperity. So since, even when cast into prison, he won over the chief jailer and received from him control of everything there, let us see in this case as well how he reveals the force of grace coming his way. (3) 'j\fter these events;'2 the text goes on, remember. Which events? What it had recounted following his being accused, after his condemnation to a term in prison, and not only this but also after our being told that the Lord was with him and 1. Gen 39.23. 2. Gen 40.1. 212 HOMILY 63 213 that the chiefjailer entrusted everything there to his management . So "after these events;' after his being cast into prison, "the chief cupbearer and the chiefbaker gave offence and were sentenced by the king to a term in prison. The chief jailer admitted them and put them with Joseph:'3 No longer, notice, was he treating him like a prisoner but as a confidant, or rather even as one capable of mitigating the misfortunes of those confined there. "He gave them help:' the text says. What is the meaning of "He gave them help"? He comforted them; he strengthened their resolve; he awakened their courage; he did not allow them to be depressed with sadness. (4) "Now, they were many days in prison, and both the chief cupbearer and the chief baker had a dream on the one night:'4 This remarkable man, however, concerned for their comfort, noticed that they were dismayed by the experience of the dreams and confused in mind; so he asked, "'Why so downcast today?'''5 The dejection on their faces, you see, betrayed the apprehension within them. Hence a sage, too, has said, "When the heart is lightsome, the face beams, but when it is in mourning the face falls:'6 So, when he saw them lost in dejection from the experience of their dreams, he questioned them to discover the cause. See how, even when he found himself in prison, he gave evidence of his characteristic virtue and was concerned to relieve the sadness of others. (5) So what was their response? "'We had a dream, and there is no one to interpret it:"7 They had no idea of the wisdom of the one speaking to them; they referred to him as to one amongst many, and so, instead of telling him the dream, they said simply that they had had one, adding, There is no one to interpret it. "'Doesn't their explanation come from God? So tell me about them:" In other words, surely I can't guarantee to tell you anything of myself-it is God who reveals it. "'So tell me about them:" Notice his insight and the extraordinary degree of his humility: he did not say, I will interpret them for 3. A precis of Gen 40.2-4. 4· A precis of Gen 40.4-5. 5. Gen 40.7. For a champion of precision, Chrysostom is just skimming through the text at this stage. 6. Prov 15.13. 7. Gen 40.8. 214 ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM you; I will tell you the outcome of the dreams. Instead, what? "'So...