An Ignatian Reflection on finding God in the sending
In the woven fabric of Holy Scripture, some threads shimmer with a quiet urgency—reminding us that we are not where we are by accident. Two such threads, separated by centuries but united in spirit, come together in the stories of Joseph and the Apostles. One looks back on suffering and sees providence. The other looks forward to mission and sees urgency. Together, they speak to us today.
In Genesis 45, Joseph sands before his brothers who had betrayed him. Instead of vengeance, he offers vision:
“It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you.” — Genesis 45:5
Joseph reframes his pain. He doesn’t deny the betrayal or the years of suffering, but he sees them through the lens of divine purpose. God didn’t cause the harm—but God used it. Joseph was sent ahead not to survive, but to save. His presence in Egypt becomes the means by which others are fed, forgiven, and restored.
Centuries later, Jesus sends out his Apostles with a mission that echoes Joseph’s:
“As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.” — Matthew 10:7–8
The Apostles are not sent with wealth or weapons, but with healing and hope. They are to give freely, because they have received freely. Their mission is not to build empires, but to restore lives. Like Joseph, they are sent into a world of hunger—spiritual, emotional, physical—and called to be vessels of God’s abundance.
In the spirit of Ignatian spirituality, both Joseph and the Apostles invite us to reflect on our own lives through the lens of mission and grace.
- Discernment: Where has God already gone ahead of you? What situations—however difficult—might be part of a larger story of redemption?
- Generosity: What have you received without cost? How might you give it away with the same freedom?
- Mission: Who in your life needs healing, hope, or simply your presence?
The Ignatian Examen teaches us to look back with gratitude and forward with purpose. Joseph’s hindsight becomes holy insight. The Apostles’ sending becomes sacred urgency.
You may not feel like Joseph. You may not feel like an Apostle. But you are sent.
You are sent into your family, your community, your workplace—not by accident, but by grace. You carry the Kingdom. You carry healing. You carry hope.
And someone’s life may be preserved because you showed up.
“God sent me ahead of you…”
“As you go, proclaim…”
May we live as those sent—freely, faithfully, and full of hope.
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