July 11, 2005, Memorial of St. Benedict, Abbott.

A reading from the book of Genesis.

Israel set out with all that was his.

When he arrived at Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

There, God speaking to Israel in a vision by night, called,

Jacob, Jacob, he answered, here I am.

Then he said, I am God, the God of your father.

Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you a great nation.

Not only will I go down to Egypt with you, I will also bring you back here after Joseph has closed your eyes.

So Jacob departed from Biasheba and the sons of Israel put their father and their wives and children

on the wagons that Pharaoh had sent for his transport.

They took with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired

in the land of Canaan. Thus Jacob and all his descendants migrated to Egypt. His sons and his

grandsons, his daughters and his granddaughters, all his descendants, he took with him to Egypt.

Israel had sent Judah ahead to Joseph so that he might meet him in Goshen.

On his arrival in the region of Goshen, Joseph hitched the horses to his chariot

and rode to meet his father Israel in Goshen.

As soon as Joseph saw him, he flung himself on his neck and wept a long time in his arms.

And Israel said to Joseph,

At last I can die,

now that I have seen for myself

that Joseph is still alive.

...