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 being put  into  prison,  he  became  known  to  the  chief  butler  who,  later on, introduced  him  to  the  king. Even the  chief  butler’s  ingratitude, which must  have  deeply  wounded  Joseph,  led,  under  God’s  providence, towards the  desired  end;  for  if  the  chief  butler  had  remembered  him sooner, and  got  him  taken  out  of  prison  at  once,  Joseph  would  not have remained  in  Egypt,  but  would  have  returned  to  Chanaan,  to  his sorrowful old  father. Thus all  these  misfortunes  led,  under  divine providence, to  the  future  exaltation  of  Joseph. Moreover, by  his  troubles he was  confirmed  in  prayer,  confidence,  humility,  and  love  of  his neighbour, and  was  thus  prepared  for  the  important  post  for  which God had  destined  him. When we  think  of  all  this,  we  can  only  exclaim with St.  Paul:  “How  incomprehensible  are  God’s  judgments,  and  how unsearchable His  ways!”  (Rom.  11,  33.)

Joseph, the sixth  type  of  Jesus  Christ. Joseph,  the  beloved , obedient, and  innocent  son  of  his  father,  was  envied  by  his  brethren,  ill-treated  by  them,  sold,  and  given  over  to  the  Gentiles:  so  also  Jesus. Joseph was  repeatedly  tempted,  and  yet  did  not  sin:  so  also  Jesus. Joseph was  falsely  accused  and  unjustly  condemned. Jesus suffered patiently and  resignedly  between  two  malefactors,  to  one  of  whom  he foretold  pardon: Jesus,  crucified,  between  two  thieves,  said  to  the  one on His  right  hand:  “This  day  shalt  thou  be  with  Me  in  Paradise.” Joseph was  set  free  from  prison,  and  made  ruler  over  the  whole  land: Jesus was  raised  from  the  prison  of  the  tomb,  and  sitteth  at  the  right hand of  His  Father. Joseph was  called  the  saviour  of  the  world,  because he  saved  the  Egyptians  from  famine; Jesus  is  indeed  the  Saviour of the  world,  because  He  has  redeemed  the  whole  world  from  sin  and hell. The Egyptians  bowed  the  knee  before  Joseph  to  testify  the  homage they owed  him. “In the  name  of  Jesus  every  knee  should  bow,  of those  that  are  in  heaven,  on  earth,  and  under  the  earth,  and  every tongue should  confess  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  in  the  glory  of God  the  Father”  (Phil.  2,  10.  11). (Repeat the  first  five  types.)

Joseph's exaltation  is  a type  of  the  glory  of  the  just  in  heaven.  God does not  always  reward  the  just  in  this  world;  for  we  were  created, not for  a temporal,  but  for  an  eternal  happiness. But we  may  be  sure that He  will  reward  them  in  the  next  world  by  an  “eternal  weight  of glory”  (2  Cor.  4,  17). The just  have  to  pass  through  many  trials  on earth. They may,  like  Joseph,  be  persecuted  and  ridiculed  for  their faith, piety,  or  conscientiousness,  but  some  day  they  will  be  exalted, and rewarded  with  everlasting  happiness. The more  good  a man  has done on  earth,  and  the  more  he  has  suffered  for  the  love  of  God,  the greater will  be  his  reward  in  heaven. “Blessed are  they  that  suffer persecution for  justice’  sake,  for  theirs  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven. Blessed are  ye  when  they  shall  revile  you  and  persecute  you,  and  speak all that  is  evil  against  you  untruly,  for  My  sake. Be glad  and  rejoice, for your  reward  is  very  great  in  heaven”  (Mat.  5,  10 — 12). “Blessed is the  man  that  endureth  temptation,  for,  when  he  hath  been  proved,