Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/136

 abuse me,  and  when  he  heard  me  cry,  he  left  the  garment  which I held, and  fled  out.”

Putiphar, believing  his  wife  too  easily,  was  very  angry  and caused the  innocent  young  man  to  be  cast  into  prison.

Piety. The  fate  of  Joseph  was  a hard  one,  being  thus  torn  away from his  home  and  father,  and  taken  to  the  market,  to  be  sold  as  a slave. But Joseph  did  not  despond. No doubt,  the  wrong  he  had suffered made  his  heart  ache; but  he  trusted  in  God,  prayed  diligently, and submitted  himself  to  God’s  will. He was  a true  worshipper  of God. The end  proved  that  his  trust  in  Him  was  justified. By Almighty God’s providence,  Joseph  was  bought  by  Putiphar,  who  began  to  love him on  account  of  his  virtues,  and  placed  him,  the  least  among  his slaves, in  a position  of  trust  over  his  whole  household. Therefore, St Paul  says:  “Godliness  is  profitable  to  all  things,  having  the  promise of the  life  that  now  is,  and  of  that  which  is  to  come”  (i  Tim.  4,  8).

Performance of  the  duty  of  our  state  in  life.  Because  Joseph  feared God, he  served  his  master  so  faithfully  and  zealously  that  Putiphar loved and  praised  him,  and  made  him  his  steward  over  everything. He who  wishes  to  serve  God  must,  before  all  things,  fulfil  the  duties of his  state  of  life,  faithfully  and  conscientiously.

Holy fear  of  God.  A deep  fear  of  God,  and  a hatred  of  sin  were the fruits  of  Joseph’s  piety. When tempted  to  sin,  he  cried  out,  full of horror:  “How  can  I do  this  wicked  thing,  and  sin  against  my God!”  He  said  to  himself:  “Mortal  sin  is  the  greatest  of  all  evils.' How could  I offend  the  Lord  my  God  who  has  so  graciously  created, preserved and  protected  mel”  The  fear  of  God  is  one  of  the  seven gifts of  the  Holy  Ghost.

The blessing  attending  piety.  In  the  same  way  that  God  blessed Laban, for  Jacob’s  sake,  so  did  He  bless  Putiphar,  for  the  sake  of  the God fearing  Joseph. Holy servants  and  holy  children  are  sure  to  bring a blessing on  a house.

Scandal. Putiphar’s wife  tried  to  induce  Joseph  to  sin  against  the Sixth Commandment. Had he  listened  to  this  bad  woman,  he  would have lost  the  grace  and  friendship  of  God. She wished  to  do  him  a spiritual  injury,  and  thereby  sinned  also  against  the  Fifth  Commandment.

Calumny. Putiphar’s wife  calumniated  Joseph,  and  accused  him falsely to  her  husband,  so  as  to  revenge  herself  on  him  for  having