Genesis 43:29-30, 45:1a, 4-5
“As [Joseph] looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, ‘Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?’  And he said, ‘God be gracious to you, my son.’  Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep.  He went into his private room and wept there…Then Joseph could no longer contain himself…Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come close to me.’  When they had done so, he said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!  And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.’”

Hebrews 2:10-11
“In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.  Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family.  So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.”

Mark 3:34
“Then [Jesus] looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers!  Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.’”

Father in heaven, you have designed a family made perfect by acceptance.

Through the suffering of the firstborn our imperfections are redeemed.  With fierce loyalty our eldest brother defends us from the threat of sin.

Keep us close to your fraternal shoulder.  Thank you for the bond of the name we share.

Through our brother Christ, made a blood-relative by dying to protect us, we offer our prayers.

Listen to ‘Blest be the Tie that Binds’ featuring Jill Andrews