50:15 Realizing that their father was dead, Yosef’s brothers said, “Yosef may hate us now and pay us back in full for all the suffering we caused him.” 16 So they sent a message to Yosef which said, “Your father gave this order before he died: 17 ‘Say to Yosef, “I beg you now, please forgive your brothers’ crime and wickedness in doing you harm.”’ So now, we beg of you, forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.” Yosef wept when they spoke to him; 18 and his brothers too came, prostrated themselves before him and said, “Here, we are your slaves.” 19 But Yosef said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20 You meant to do me harm, but God meant it for good — so that it would come about as it is today, with many people’s lives being saved. (vii) 21 So don’t be afraid — I will provide for you and your little ones.” In this way he comforted them, speaking kindly to them.
22 Yosef continued living in Egypt, he and his father’s household. Yosef lived 110 years. (Maftir) 23 Yosef lived to see Efrayim’s great-grandchildren, and the children of M’nasheh’s son Makhir were born on Yosef’s knees.
24 Yosef said to his brothers, “I am dying. But God will surely remember you and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Avraham, Yitz’chak and Ya‘akov.” 25 Then Yosef took an oath from the sons of Isra’el: “God will surely remember you, and you are to carry my bones up from here.” 26 So Yosef died at the age of 110, and they embalmed him and put him in a coffin in Egypt.
Be strong, be strong, and let us be strengthened!
Saint Benedict, Abbot (Memorial)
Can I take the place of God? (Genesis 50:19)As Christians, we all know that Jesus wants us to forgive each other as freely as he has forgiven us. On a theoretical level, we understand this teaching, and we know we should follow it. But what happens when someone wrongs us deeply? How easy it can be to cut that person out of our lives or to retaliate with rejection!
In today’s first reading, Joseph’s brothers suspect that he still nurses a grudge for their crimes against him, but they discover that their fear is unfounded. Instead of rejecting them, Joseph reaffirms his forgiveness.
Imagine how relieved Joseph’s brothers must have felt to hear these reassurances. Imagine, also, the relief and joy Peter (who denied Jesus) and Paul (who persecuted Jesus’ disciples) must have felt when they met the risen Lord and realized they were forgiven—it’s as if they hadn’t sinned at all! Simiarly, many of us can remember our own joy after a particularly powerful confession or during an especially moving prayer time. We feel a love that words cannot express. We feel a sense of freedom in our forgiveness and in knowing that God calls us his own children.
So here’s the question: Can you let your experience of God’s freely-given love help you take one step closer toward forgiving someone who has hurt you? It’s easy to want “justice” for those who have offended us, but that’s not the way of Christ. He chose mercy instead. So did Joseph. So did all the saints. And so can we.
Mercy is not always an easy path, but it’s a path that Jesus calls us to walk. Thank God we don’t walk it alone! He is with us, filling us with his love. He is with us, softening our hearts by reminding us of his mercy. He is with us, and no matter how slow our progressseems, he won’t give up on us.
So take the first step toward forgiveness today, even if it’s a baby step. Remember that you are most like the Lord when you forgive. Remember, too, that the One who has forgiven you has more than enough grace to help you forgive.
“Jesus, you placed yourself into our hands and then forgave us when we mistreated you. Lord, teach me to be just as merciful!” Amen!Psalms 105:1 Give thanks to Adonai! Call on his name!
Make his deeds known among the peoples.
2 Sing to him, sing praises to him,
talk about all his wonders.
3 Glory in his holy name;
let those seeking Adonai have joyful hearts.
4 Seek Adonai and his strength;
always seek his presence.
6 You descendants of Avraham his servant,
you offspring of Ya‘akov, his chosen ones,
7 he is Adonai our God!
His rulings are everywhere on earth.
Matthew 10:24 “A talmid is not greater than his rabbi, a slave is not greater than his master. 25 It is enough for a talmid that he become like his rabbi, and a slave like his master. Now if people have called the head of the house Ba‘al-Zibbul, how much more will they malign the members of his household! 26 So do not fear them; for there is nothing covered that will not be uncovered, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim on the housetops.
28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are powerless to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who can destroy both soul and body in Gei-Hinnom. 29 Aren’t sparrows sold for next to nothing, two for an assarion? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s consent. 30 As for you, every hair on your head has been counted. 31 So do not be afraid, you are worth more than many sparrows.
32 “Whoever acknowledges me in the presence of others I will also acknowledge in the presence of my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others I will disown before my Father in heaven.
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