Ordinary Time

Pause

Be still

breathe in, breathe out

God’s first language is silence

Be still

breathe in, breathe out

listen closely for the voice of God

Listen

When Joseph’s brothers realized that their father was now dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge against us, and wants to pay us back seriously for all of the terrible things we did to him?” So they approached Joseph and said, “Your father gave orders before he died, telling us, ‘This is what you should say to Joseph. “Please, forgive your brothers’ sins and misdeeds, for they did terrible things to you. Now, please forgive the sins of the servants of your father’s God.”’” Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

Genesis 50:15-17

Think

What would you do if you had the chance to get payback on someone who did something so hurtful you could not forget it? Forgiveness is one of the most difficult Christian acts to understand and do. When someone has embarrassed or bullied us, our culture tells us we should get even or at least “clap back.” If the offender is bigger, more powerful, or more popular we may hold our anger in our hearts and wish or even pray that they somehow get what we think they have coming to them.

Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt when he was a young boy. His life was extremely hard, but God’s love and care never left him. He rose to become the second most powerful person in the country. Now, without their father to protect them, his brothers fear that Joseph will seek revenge for what they did. It is time for a life lesson. What do you think it will be?

Kamal Hassan

Pray

God, let me know what to do about those who have injured me and are trying to get away with it. I need the wisdom to make a choice that upholds my dignity and my rights. Let me be neither complicit by my silence nor vengeful in my actions. Amen.

Go

I don’t feel no ways tired,

I come too far from where I started from.

Nobody told me that the road would be easy,

I don’t believe He brought me this far to leave me.

from “I Don’t Feel No Ways Tired” by Curtis Burrell (1978)