Joe, Our Tax Collector

Last Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the first reading at Mass were taken from the last chapters of the Book of Genesis. We could easily call these chapters (37-50) 'The Book of Joseph' since it primarily tells the story of the Old Testament Joseph, the last of the great Old Testament Patriarchs.

On Wednesday, I was struck with the image of tax collectors. The Gospel of the day listed the names of the twelve Apostles and referred to Matthew as "the tax collector". Often tax collectors received and continue to receive a bad rapt for their work; however, we learn that the Old Testament Joseph was himself a tax collector--"he collected all the food of these years of plenty that the land of Egypt was enjoying and stored it in the cities" (Gen. 41:48). I know that I have often complained that the government takes too much of my income in taxes; however, one thing is true, they have never taken all of it (despite it feeling like it at times!). Yet, we could say that Joseph did; he collected all the food, not some, not most. How do you think that made the Egyptians feel during those seven years of plenty? Here is a foreigner, ex-slave, and accused sex-offender, demanding all of the produce of their hard earned labor. I would have been extremely upset. But Joseph, unlike so many of the tax-collectors in the New Testament, did not impose ridiculously high taxes for his own sake, but for the sake of others placed under his care by the "god"-man, Pharaoh.

We already know that the Old Testament Joseph prefigures Joe in many ways, so can we say that he prefigures Joe in this way as well? I think the answer is yes.

In my experience in prayer, has been that when I give to Joe any intention -whether in times of spiritual plenitude or famine- he has always taken it and made the situation better. In a way, Joe has become my heavenly tax collector. For the last year or so, I've begun adding to letters "All for Jesus. All through Mary. All with Joseph." This is exactly what the Old Testament Joseph did. He collected the grain with the Egyptian people. I encourage you, maybe I'll even say that I dare you, let Joe be your heavenly tax collector in times of plentitude and famine, whether spiritual or physical. You will not be disappointed! You will survive whatever famine may be coming your way. He has been appointed by the true God-man, Jesus Christ, to this office, and he will not let you die of starvation!