The Most Virtuous Joseph
Joseph found himself in prison after refusing the advances of his master’s wife, who in her wounded pride slandered him. Through God’s great wisdom that orders all things rightly, and through His special grace in his chosen one, Joseph was released and becomes master of Pharaoh’s house and finally ruler over Egypt. This enables him to save his family Israel from famine in their homeland, and as Joseph said to them when they came trembling before him, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” Thus is chaste Joseph seen as a prefiguring of Christ, who would be crucified out of the envy of the Jews, but through his Divine humility redeem the world.
The following is an excerpt from St. Ephraim the Syrian's “Sermon on Joseph the Most Virtuous”, translated by Fr. Ephraim Lash and posted on Anastasis.
Large fresco from Sopocani depicting the life of the Righteous Joseph from the Book of Genesis
"For just as the Lord * was sent to us
from the Father’s bosom, * to save us all,
So the youth Joseph * from Jacob’s bosom
was sent to enquire * about his own brothers.
And just as Joseph’s * harsh brothers,
as soon as they saw * him approaching,
began to devise * evil against him,
though he was bringing * them peace
from their father, * so the Jews also,
ever hard of heart, * as soon as they saw
the Savior, said, * ‘This is the heir,
let us kill him, * and all will be ours’.
And just as Joseph’s * brothers said,
‘Let us do away with him, * and let us be set free
of his dreams’, * in the same way too
the Jews said, * ‘Come, let us kill him and lay hold
* on his inheritance’.
Joseph’s brothers, * while eating,
sold him, * slaying him in intent.
In the same way too * the abominable Jews,
while eating the Passover, * slew the Savior.
The Righteous Joseph being captured by his brothers
The descent of Joseph * into Egypt signifies
the descent to earth * of our Savior.
And as Joseph * within the marriage chamber
trampled down all * the strength of sin,
putting on the bright * prizes of victory,
against the Egyptian woman, * his mistress,
so too the Lord, * the Savior of our souls,
by his own right hand, * descending into Hell,
destroyed there * all the power
of the dread * and near invincible tyrant.
When Joseph * had conquered sin
he was put in prison * until the hour of his crowning;
so too the Lord, * that he might take away
every sin of the world, * was placed in a grave.
Joseph in prison * spent two whole years,
passing his time * in great freedom;
while the Lord, * as powerful, remained
in the tomb for three days, * not undergoing corruption.
The Righteous Joseph in prison
Joseph, on Pharaoh’s order, * was brought out
graciously from prison, * as a true type,
when he easily interpreted * the meaning of the
dreams,
indicating the abundance of grain * that was going to be;
while our Lord [Jesus Christ] * was raised from the
dead
by his own power, * despoiling Hell,
offering to the Father * our liberation,
proclaiming resurrection * and everlasting life.
Joseph took his seat * in Pharaoh’s chariot,
having received authority * over the whole of Egypt;
while our Savior, * king before the ages,
ascending into heaven * on a cloud of light,
took his seat with glory * at the Father’s right
hand,
above the Cherubim, * as Only-begotten Son.
The Righteous Joseph crowned by Pharaoh
When ruling * over Egypt, Joseph
having received authority * against his enemies,
his brothers * were brought willingly
before the tribunal * of the one who had died through
them;
they were brought to prostrate * with fear and
trembling
before the one who had been sold * by them to death;
and with fear they prostrated * before Joseph,
whom they had not wanted * to be king over them.
But Joseph, recognizing * his brothers,
revealed them as murderers * by a single word;
but they, when they realized, * stood dumbfounded
in great shame, * not daring to utter,
not having anything * at all to say in their
defence,
knowing exactly * their own sin
at the moment * when they sold him;
while he, who seemed * to have been destroyed by them in
Hades,
was suddenly found * to be ruling over them.
The Righteous Joseph ruling over his brothers
So too on that * fearful day,
when the Lord comes * on the clouds of the air,
he takes his seat on the throne * of his kingdom,
and all his enemies * are brought bound
by fearsome Angels * before the judgement seat,
all those who did not want * him to rule over them.
For the lawless Jews * thought then,
that if he were crucified, * he would die as a human;
the wretches not being persuaded * that God had
come,
for salvation, * to save our souls.
Just as Joseph * said quite openly
to his brothers, * making them fear and tremble,
‘I am Joseph, * whom you sold [into slavery],
but now I rule over you, * though you did not want it’.
So too the Lord * shows the Cross
in an image formed of light * to those who crucified him,
and they recognize * the Cross itself
and the Son of God * who was crucified by them.
Know how accurately * Joseph became
a true type * of his own Master."
Christ appearing at the Last Judgment
Copyright to Archimandrite Ephrem © (http://anastasis.org.uk/Joseph.pdf)
