|
Genesis 44:18- 45:5 The story of Joseph, the youngest son of Jacob, who was sold into Egyptian slavery by his brothers only to become their saving help years later during wide-spread famine, stands for all time as a redemption story of family. Although Joseph recognized his treacherous brothers when they came for a measure of grain, they did not recognize the brother whom they had treated so badly. As an Egyptian ruler, he held their fate in the palm of his hand, and seems to have been tempted to ‘get even’. The turning point away from revenge towards reconciliation came when Joseph’s brothers manifested their remorse over their own injustice to their brother years before, and were unswerving in their empathy with their father’s grief. Then Joseph revealed his identity to his older siblings and wept his forgiveness to each of them, tracing and proclaiming God’s grace to them all: “...do not be angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.” Am I so focused on God’s mercy that I engage empathy and forgiveness over resentment and revenge in my own family? Holy Spirit of Jesus, help me deal in empathy and forgiveness as I trace your grace in my family, my community. The kingdom of heaven has come near! (Matthew 10:7) I used to ask God to help me. Then I asked if I might help Him. I ended up by asking Him to do His work through me" J. Hudson Taylor www.gospelmysteryoftheday.ca & Gospel Mystery of the Day on Facebook Soli ad gloriam Dei
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorBeverly Illauq lives in Kemptville, Ontario, where she greets each morning by seeking the Gospel Mystery of the Day - the Word of the Lord for direct and practical application to the specific challenges & joys of the day. Archives
March 2024
Categories |
RSS Feed
