Problems arising from sibling rivalry affect families and individuals in many ways, often with quite disastrous consequences. There are two notable stories about sibling rivalry in the Bible, the story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4) and today's story of Joseph and his brothers. The story of Joseph in Egypt and his spectacular rise to power, recounted in a different form in Psalm 105(104), provides us with a very clear example of how God can and patiently does work in unforeseen ways to bring good out of evil.

The parable in the Gospel shows the patience of the property owner in the face of intransigence and injustice, up to the point where the tenants in their greed brought ruin upon themselves.

In the story of Joseph, God works through human beings and human institutions to demonstrate unconditional fidelity to his promises and bring salvation rather than ruin to the family of Israel (Jacob). Thus Joseph is a symbol pointing to God's work of our redemption through his beloved son, Jesus.