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 blood grew  from  it. They were  heartless  and  cruel,  turned  a deaf  ear to Joseph’s  lamentation,  and  sold  him  into  the  miseries  of  slavery. They lied  to  their  father  (“We  have  found  this  coat  &amp;c.”),  embittered his life,  and  counterfeited  compassion  for  his  grief. What a multitude of sins; and  they  all  sprang  from  envy! Therefore, envy  is  a capital  sin.

The evil  consequences  of  one  venial  sin.  This  story  teaches  us  that small causes  (such  as  little  faults  and  venial  sins)  produce  great  effects, and have  very  evil  consequences. It was  weak-minded  and  foolish  of Jacob  to  parade  his  preference  for  Joseph;  but  this,  in  itself,  was  not a great sin. However, it  roused  the  envy  of  his  other  sons,  and  brought much suffering  and  sorrow  both  upon  Jacob  and  Joseph. So let  us  be on  our  guard  against  even  the  smallest  faults.

Omission of  what  we  ought  to  do.  Reuben  and  Juda  were  the  two brothers who  sinned  less  than  the  others. Juda, at  least,  saved  Joseph’s life; and,  as  for  Reuben — well,  it  might  be  said  that  he  had  no  share in his  brothers’  sin,  because  he  wished  to  save  Joseph,  and  took  no part  in  selling  him. Nevertheless, he  cannot  be  exonerated  from blame. He ought  to  have  openly  and  decidedly  opposed  his  brothers’ blood-thirsty plan,  and  boldly  protected  Joseph. Then, after  he  learnt that Joseph  had  been  sold,  he  ought  to  have  told  the  truth  to  his sorrowing father,  who  would  have  sent  to  Egypt,  to  seek  and  ransom Joseph. Reuben, therefore,  sinned  by  omitting  to  do  what  he  ought  to have  done.

God can  make  good  come  out  of  evil.  Joseph’s  brethren  said  to themselves:  “If  we  sell  Joseph  to  be  a slave  in  Egypt,  his  dreams  will come to  nothing,  and  he  will  never  rule  over  us.”  But  God’s  wisdom decreed that  it  was  in  Egypt  that  Joseph  was  to  be  exalted,  and  his brethren humbled  before  him.

Immortality of  the  soul.  Jacob  knew  and  believed  that  he  would, one day,  rejoin  Joseph,  even  though  he  were  dead. He knew  that everything does  not  finish  with  death,  but  that  there  is  an  eternal  life to come  after  this  passing  one.

Take great  pains  to  deserve  the  love  of  your parents by  your  conduct.

Do you  wish  for  smart  clothes? Do you  wish  to  be  distinguished from  other  children  by  your  finery? God does  not  look to the  clothes,  but  to  the  heart  adorned  with  many  virtues.

Perhaps you  have  often  published  abroad  the  faults  of  others without any  necessity. On the  other  hand,  you  may  have  concealed what  you  know,  from  those  set  over  you,  who  have  a right to know. By doing  so  you  have  shared  in  the  guilt  of  others.

You see  in  Jacob’s  case  how  very  strong  is  the  love  which parents have  for  their  children. Should not  children  be  very