GEN. 44: 18 – 21, 23b – 29; 45: 1 –5 /PS. 104: 16 -21/ Matt. 10:7 – 15

Beloved in Christ, the first reading presents to us the reunion between Joseph and all his brothers. It was Joseph himself who recognised his brothers who had come to buy food for their sustenance as result of the famine in Egypt and its environs. He asked his brothers that when next they come, they should bring along his beloved younger brother Benjamin. This is how Joseph reunited with his long-separated brothers, which happened because of the other brother’s jealousy that led them to sale Joseph off to the Ishmaelites who brought him to Egypt.

Brethren, Joseph wept when he eventually revealed himself to his brothers. It is recorded that he wept so loudly that “the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it” (Genesis 45:2). This weeping was to a large degree a way of releasing the tension and the bitterness than had been bottled up within him. Every nerve in his body might have cringed for revenge, but instead he chose to weep and forgive, it is remarkable that Joseph wept at a time when he had the power to make others weep.

As the second most powerful person in Egypt all he needed to do was say a word and his brothers would be dead; for what they had done to him was cruel. Joseph also knew that he did not deserve all the bad things that had happened to him. He was faced with the choice to either get even or melt his bitterness with his own tears, to his immense credit he chose the latter.

Joseph allowed himself to weep and to express deep emotional pain. But his crying was not in order to attract the attention of those who had hurt him, or to induce in them a sense of guilt. He did not cry to get them to see how evil they had been and how much they had hurt him. He took responsibility for his feelings and did not blame them on others.

Dear friends, let us all strive hard not to blame others for our response to what they do to us. Anger, for example, is a chosen response to another’s actions. No one has the power to make us angry; we choose to be angry and how we display that anger.

One of the mistakes we sometimes make as victims is to expect those who have hurt us to also play a role in our healing. We do this by depending on their repentance and remorse for our healing. We put our lives on hold until they have asked for forgiveness or until we have avenged ourselves for the evil done to us.

 In this sense we are allowing them to be in a position of power over us once more, because to us they hold the key to our restoration, healing and happiness.

Let us note this, it was the presence of the Lord that brought healing to Joseph while he had the power to avenge, God gave him the power to heal. The comfort he had received from God enabled him to extend a hand of restoration and reconciliation to his brothers.

Instead of vengeance, we find Joseph reaching out to his brothers, attending to their needs and restoring them. He is the one who goes out to the extreme to comfort them. He does not even expect an apology from them but displays profound insight into why these things happened to him.

We learn from Joseph that the first step towards forgiveness is to come to terms with our own feelings. We will not have the power to forgive anyone unless we allow God to heal us. We need to give ourselves time to grieve. We are human beings and it is not a sign of weakness to shed tears. Remember, the Bible promises that one day God will wipe away all tears (Revelation 21:4).

Joseph refused to be defined by what his brothers had done to him; he refused to be tempted to let their deeds be the last word and the defining moment in his life. Joseph was not known as the boy who was sold into slavery by his brothers but as a man who enjoyed the presence of the Lord.

 “The Lord was with Joseph”. He recognised the all-embracing purpose and providence of God in his life. God was with Joseph and He guided him, made him successful and great, but he remembered who he was and how God had helped and provided for him.

 In Genesis 50:20 we hear Joseph say: “But God meant it for good….” Remember, this does not mean that his brothers’ deed was good, only that God meant it for good. God transformed it and used it to accomplish His purpose. Joseph was not commending his brothers for what they did but was giving glory and honour to God for His providence.

Joseph always knew that God was preparing him for something big; his dreams had pointed in that direction. Joseph could clearly see that what had happened in his life was not mere coincidence. He could clearly see the hand of God directing his affairs and opening doors that were shut. While people did not shape his future, they undoubtedly propelled his upward mobility. This made it easier for Joseph to forgive, for he had come to realise that no human being has the power to destroy God’s plans.

It is easier to forgive those who have wronged us when we understand the bigger picture. We should know and appreciate the fact that God will have the final word on whatever hardships we experience.

Paul seeks to encourage us when he says, “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). This is the only thing that can keep us stable and sane amidst the instability and chaos that might surround us. Too many of us are in the habit of reminding ourselves of all the evil things that people have done to us while forgetting how God has pulled us through all those experiences.

Beloved, sometimes our enemies are at our service. The plans they hatch in an attempt to destroy us may prove in the end to be that which brings us closer to God’s plans. Finally, we saw that Joseph discerned God’s providence amidst all the pain and frustration he had experienced.

All these decisions paved the way for Joseph to forgive his brothers. Beloved in Christ, we too, may have to go through these steps to be able to forgive those who have wronged us. The choice is ours, whether to pay the costly price of forgiveness or to allow ourselves to be destroyed by bitterness, which also comes at a price.