5 Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”
8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.
9 Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”
10 When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?” 11 His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. Genesis 37:5-10
What Joseph dreamed was from God. Years from now it would benefit all his family as well as all those Israelites yet to be born. In fact, because God knew the hearts involved, their reactions set the stage for the future. His brothers hated him and intended to harm Joseph, but God intended it for good. (Genesis 50:20) Note Jacob's response. He initially rebuked him for what seemed to be impertinence. But while his brothers lived in jealousy, "his father kept the matter in mind."
It is wise for us to not jump quickly to rebuke "truth" when it causes discomfort. We should keep things in mind, take time to pray over and seek to understand it so that we can capture the mind of God. What may seem harmful to us in the first reading may really be intended by God for our good. But it may take a while before we see it.
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