大象传媒

Good morning. Some of my favourite stories from the Qur鈥檃n relate to the Prophet Joseph. When I was younger I am sure it was the Biblical stories of his rainbow cloak that I loved, or maybe because he was my namesake, but as an adult it is Joseph as an outcast, a victim of human trafficking, a refugee, that has inspired me.
Joseph was persecuted by his own kin, and left in a well to die. Traders found him and sold him on as a slave, and thus he was taken from his own land and found himself in Egypt. Handsome and educated, he was purchased by a wealthy merchant, but when Joseph rejected the advances of the merchant鈥檚 wife he was cast into prison and forgotten. There he interpreted the dreams of prisoners, and it is one of them who mentioned Joseph to the King. Joseph was brought before His Majesty interpreted his dream, stored the grain in a time of abundance, which saved Egypt in a subsequent聽 time of famine. Through this he was able to save his own family who later came to Egypt looking for food.
The story reminds me of so many refugees I have met in my life. People who have been forced from their own lands because of war or persecution, and ended up in Europe and America. Their stories of the persecution from which they fled and the prejudice they have often received have been both inspirational and painful to hear. I remember 30 years ago a Polish boy at school who fled the then Communist Regime with his family. He worked so hard to learn English, and to study. His story was inspirational back then. He is a scientist now.
Our Lord allow us to welcome the stranger, and treat them kindly. Allow us to see that the stranger can benefit us. Allow us to see that the stranger can benefit those from where they came. Ameen.