Read Genesis 44:18-21,23-29,45:1-5, Ps. 105:16-21, Matthew 10:7-15
“I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” (Genesis 45:4-5)
Joseph had every moral justification for dealing mercilessly with his brothers. After all these years, they never admitted their fault, but somehow Joseph found a way to forgive them. How? Joseph saw a higher purpose in their wicked act – he saw the big picture – he understood that his sufferings and pains (his slavery, his experience with Potiphar’s wife, his imprisonment, his ability to interpret dreams etc.) were all for a reason.
Joseph could see that God was using these experiences for his good, writing straight on very crooked lines, that even though his brothers never meant well for him, God sent him ahead of them to preserve life. Who knows? If Joseph were not Prime Minister of Egypt during that great famine, that would have ended the Israelite Nation. Joseph understood this, and without waiting for his brothers to apologise, he forgave them.
Have you been seriously offended in the past such that you still have trouble forgiving and letting go? What if I told you that God allowed that painful experience to happen only because He knew something good could come from it? Would you continue holding a grudge? Please just let it go. Stop waiting for their apology.
Free your heart and move on. What you have now is far better than what you think you lost. Try to see the brighter side. Trust that God has always and will always be there for you. Even in your darkest moments, God is still there for you. He did it for Joseph. He will do it for you.
In our Gospel passage, Jesus commissions the chosen twelve, saying: “Preach as you go.” This means the minister preaches first by his life, then by his words. Jesus explains how the minister does this: “Take no gold, nor silver, nor copper in your belts, no bag… nor two tunics, nor sandals.” Without a certain sense of disdain for the world’s riches, the minister could easily fall into the second temptation of Jesus – to bow down to Satan in exchange for the glories of the world.
His disciples wondered: “Is He sending us on a suicide mission?” Jesus immediately added: “The labourer deserves his food.” In other words: “Seek first God’s kingdom, and God will provide everything you need.” This is not easy to practice, but it works. God, the good shepherd, always provides what is needed.
Let us pray: Almighty ever-living God, teach me to find freedom by forgiving others and letting go of the things of this world. Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of week 14 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Genesis 44:18-21,23-29,45:1-5, Ps. 105:16-21, Matthew 10:7-15).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu