Friday in Epiphany

1Verse 1. Then Joseph instructed his steward: “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each one’s silver in the mouth of his sack. 2Verse 2. Put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” So the steward did as Joseph had instructed. 3Verse 3. At daybreak, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. 4Verse 4. They had not gone far from the city when Joseph told his steward, “Pursue the men at once, and when you overtake them, ask, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil? 5Verse 5. Is this not the cup my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!’” 6Verse 6. When the steward overtook them, he relayed these words to them. 7Verse 7. “Why does my lord say these things?” they asked. “Your servants could not possibly do such a thing. 8Verse 8. We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found in the mouths of our sacks. Why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house? 9Verse 9. If any of your servants is found to have it, he must die, and the rest will become slaves of my lord.” 10Verse 10. “As you say,” replied the steward. “But only the one who is found with the cup will be my slave, and the rest of you shall be free of blame.” 11Verse 11. So each one quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it. 12Verse 12. The steward searched, beginning with the oldest and ending with the youngest — and the cup was found in Benjamin’s sack. 13Verse 13. Then they all tore their clothes, loaded their donkeys, and returned to the city. 14Verse 14. When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him. 15Verse 15. “What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Do you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?” 16Verse 16. “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves— both we and the one who was found with the cup.” 17Verse 17. But Joseph replied, “Far be it from me to do this. The man who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may return to your father in peace.”

12Verse 12. I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven through His name. 13Verse 13. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. 14Verse 14. I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. 15Verse 15. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16Verse 16. For all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life — is not from the Father but from the world. 17Verse 17. The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.