SOMEHOW, the name of Joseph reminds
us of dreams. We have
Joseph, the son of Jacob, in the Old Testament, and St. Joseph, the
foster father of Jesus, in the New Testament, both of whose lives were
shaped by dreams.
In the case of Joseph, the son of Jacob, his brothers
branded him as a dreamer out of envy. He told them of a dream about
his sheaf of crop standing out and those of his brothers bowed down to
his. Also, he dreamt of the sun, moon, and 11 stars bowing down to
him, which further stirred the envy of his brothers.
This was later on realized when even Jacob and Joseph’s
brothers had to bow down to him, already as a governor of Egypt who
was in charge of dispensing grain during the time of famine. This part
of the story of Joseph is most moving, it shows his magnanimity and
how good a person he was in spite of the grave injustice inflicted on
him by own brothers.
It was also because of dreams that Joseph, who was earlier
sold as a slave by own brothers, managed to gain favor from the
Egyptian ruler and later rose to be a big man there. And that’s
because he convincingly interpreted the dreams of the baffled and
disturbed pharaoh.
It was when the great famine struck and all people had to
go to Egypt that the famous words, “Ite ad Ioseph,” (Go to Joseph, and
do whatever he tells you), were uttered by the Egyptian pharaoh who
already trusted Joseph and gave him charge of the affairs and concerns
of the land.
Somehow the Old Testament Joseph prefigures the New
Testament St. Joseph. Like the former, the latter also had dreams that
shaped his life. He was clarified about his vocation and mission in
life through a dream. Like the former, the latter also had to go to
Egypt because of the rampage of killing of the innocents.
And just as the former received the homage of his own
father and brothers, the latter now is revered by the Christian
faithful all over the world. And just as the former took care of the
affairs and concerns of Egypt, the latter took care of Jesus and Mary,
and now of the whole Church.
We can only wish that we have dreams like those of the two
Josephs. This should be part of our constant prayers. Even if we
should not pay much attention to our dreams, since they are beyond our
control, we should realize that dreams somehow play an important role
of our life. They can tell us many things about ourselves, and about
others also, and still many other things.
We have to know how to handle them, when to take them
seriously and when not. The proper and basic attitude, I think, is not
to be afraid of them and to remain calm, especially when they are
distressing. We should also bring them to our prayers, always asking
for light from God.
Yes, dreams can express the content of our subconscious
mind and heart, our fears, hidden desires and pent-up emotions. When
this is the case, it can only mean that we have to improve on our
integrity and simplicity, our unity of life, resolving with the grace
of God and our efforts whatever inner contradictions we harbor in our
hearts, especially the tension between our spirit and our wounded
flesh.
We may have to make some consultations with appropriate
persons like priests and spiritual counselors, etc. In this, we have
to practice utmost prudence and remain calm.
But let’s pray that we have dreams of the entertaining
type too—song-and-dance routines, adventures, comical skits, a little
suspense and drama, etc. This would somehow indicate we are ok,
healthy, etc. Let’s thank God for them.
But most especially, let’s ask God that our dreams be like
those of the two Josephs, that is, that we have dreams that are
vehicles of God’s will and messages for us.
These are dreams that help us discover our true vocation,
that somehow portend the future to us, that make us more in love with
God and with everybody else. These are dreams that though involving
some sacrifices, would make us happy and at peace.
Now that we have this holy craze of the devotion to the
sleeping St. Joseph, let’s approach this holy patriarch and ask him
that we have dreams like his. I am sure that he is too willing to
oblige us. From heaven, his intercessions will always be effective.
Joseph, the son of Jacob, in the Old Testament, and St. Joseph, the
foster father of Jesus, in the New Testament, both of whose lives were
shaped by dreams.
In the case of Joseph, the son of Jacob, his brothers
branded him as a dreamer out of envy. He told them of a dream about
his sheaf of crop standing out and those of his brothers bowed down to
his. Also, he dreamt of the sun, moon, and 11 stars bowing down to
him, which further stirred the envy of his brothers.
This was later on realized when even Jacob and Joseph’s
brothers had to bow down to him, already as a governor of Egypt who
was in charge of dispensing grain during the time of famine. This part
of the story of Joseph is most moving, it shows his magnanimity and
how good a person he was in spite of the grave injustice inflicted on
him by own brothers.
It was also because of dreams that Joseph, who was earlier
sold as a slave by own brothers, managed to gain favor from the
Egyptian ruler and later rose to be a big man there. And that’s
because he convincingly interpreted the dreams of the baffled and
disturbed pharaoh.
It was when the great famine struck and all people had to
go to Egypt that the famous words, “Ite ad Ioseph,” (Go to Joseph, and
do whatever he tells you), were uttered by the Egyptian pharaoh who
already trusted Joseph and gave him charge of the affairs and concerns
of the land.
Somehow the Old Testament Joseph prefigures the New
Testament St. Joseph. Like the former, the latter also had dreams that
shaped his life. He was clarified about his vocation and mission in
life through a dream. Like the former, the latter also had to go to
Egypt because of the rampage of killing of the innocents.
And just as the former received the homage of his own
father and brothers, the latter now is revered by the Christian
faithful all over the world. And just as the former took care of the
affairs and concerns of Egypt, the latter took care of Jesus and Mary,
and now of the whole Church.
We can only wish that we have dreams like those of the two
Josephs. This should be part of our constant prayers. Even if we
should not pay much attention to our dreams, since they are beyond our
control, we should realize that dreams somehow play an important role
of our life. They can tell us many things about ourselves, and about
others also, and still many other things.
We have to know how to handle them, when to take them
seriously and when not. The proper and basic attitude, I think, is not
to be afraid of them and to remain calm, especially when they are
distressing. We should also bring them to our prayers, always asking
for light from God.
Yes, dreams can express the content of our subconscious
mind and heart, our fears, hidden desires and pent-up emotions. When
this is the case, it can only mean that we have to improve on our
integrity and simplicity, our unity of life, resolving with the grace
of God and our efforts whatever inner contradictions we harbor in our
hearts, especially the tension between our spirit and our wounded
flesh.
We may have to make some consultations with appropriate
persons like priests and spiritual counselors, etc. In this, we have
to practice utmost prudence and remain calm.
But let’s pray that we have dreams of the entertaining
type too—song-and-dance routines, adventures, comical skits, a little
suspense and drama, etc. This would somehow indicate we are ok,
healthy, etc. Let’s thank God for them.
But most especially, let’s ask God that our dreams be like
those of the two Josephs, that is, that we have dreams that are
vehicles of God’s will and messages for us.
These are dreams that help us discover our true vocation,
that somehow portend the future to us, that make us more in love with
God and with everybody else. These are dreams that though involving
some sacrifices, would make us happy and at peace.
Now that we have this holy craze of the devotion to the
sleeping St. Joseph, let’s approach this holy patriarch and ask him
that we have dreams like his. I am sure that he is too willing to
oblige us. From heaven, his intercessions will always be effective.
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