Genesis 50.15-21

15 Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers said, ‘What if Joseph still bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did to him?’ 16 So they approached Joseph, saying, ‘Your father gave this instruction before he died, 17 “Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and the wrong they did in harming you.” Now therefore please forgive the crime of the servants of the God of your father.’ Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, ‘We are here as your slaves.’ 19 But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God? 20 Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. 21 So have no fear; I myself will provide for you and your little ones.’ In this way he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.

 

REFLECTION

 I look at this reading in light of the Gospel reading on forgiveness. Joseph is a good example of someone who forgives as God forgives. He sees the gift of God rather than the acts of the brothers. Maybe that is our way of living forgiveness, to see the work of God rather than the actions of others. Any consequence of another's actions is between them and God. Not my problem.

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Psalm 103.1-13

1 Praise the Lord, O my soul:

and all that is within me, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the Lord, O my soul:

and forget not all his benefits,

3 Who forgives all your sin:

and heals all your infirmities,

4 Who redeems your life from the Pit:

and crowns you with mercy and compassion;

5 Who satisfies your being with good things:

so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.

6 The Lord works righteousness:

and justice for all who are oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses:

and his works to the children of Israel.

8 The Lord is full of compassion and mercy:

slow to anger and of great goodness.

9 He will not always be chiding:

nor will he keep his anger for ever.

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins:

nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth:

so great is his mercy over those that fear him;

12 As far as the east is from the west:

so far has he set our sins from us.

13 As a father is tender towards his children:

so is the Lord tender to those that fear him.

 

 

Romans 14.1-14

1 Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarrelling over opinions. 2 Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. 3 Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgement on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. 4 Who are you to pass judgement on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. 5 Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. 6 Those who observe the day, observe it in honour of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honour of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honour of the Lord and give thanks to God. 7 We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. 8 If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. 10 Why do you pass judgement on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God. 11 For it is written, ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.’ 12 So then, each of us will be accountable to God. 13 Let us therefore no longer pass judgement on one another, but resolve instead never to put a stumbling-block or hindrance in the way of another. 14 I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean.

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REFLECTION 

 When reading the letters I always think about the problem the writer is addressing. I also think about what the councils saw in the letter that they chose it over other letters. In this part of the letter, we see Paul focused on the different ways people were approaching food. There were the Jews who had their Jewish laws and the Gentiles with their social and religious understandings. There was the new community trying to understand the new way between the two. Paul calls for tolerance. He writes that there is judgment and despising. These would lead to conversations and actions that were damaging to faith and relationships. Paul does talk about the actions as both being aimed at honoring God. I wonder if he had a different approach for those who abstained or ate for reasons that did not honor God. Paul's first thing is to give it to God and to keep the community united. If you struggle remember God judges not us. 

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Matthew 18.21-35

21 Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ 22 Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. 23 ‘For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. 24 When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; 25 and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. 26 So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.” 27 And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. 28 But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, “Pay what you owe.” 29 Then his fellow-slave fell down and pleaded with him, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.” 30 But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt. 31 When his fellow-slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. 32 Then his lord summoned him and said to him, “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. 33 Should you not have had mercy on your fellow-slave, as I had mercy on you?” 34 And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he should pay his entire debt. 35 So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.’

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REFLECTION

I wonder why Peter asked this question and how he reacted to Jesus' response. Jesus expects a lot of forgiveness. This causes a lot of issues. No one wants to be in a relationship where you would have the same hurt done to you 77 times. It raises the question, what is forgiveness? I have heard a number of explanations.

'You can forgive, but you don't need to have the person in your life."

'Forgive and forget.'

'You can forgive, but you don't forget.' 

I guess we all have journey to understand forgiveness. I often think we need to ask how we expect God to forgive us. Do we expect God to forget? Do we expect God to forgive, but not have us in God's life?

I expect to be seen as clean in God's eyes. that my mistakes will not be held against me and I will be loved. I struggle to give others this forgiveness. 

In the parable Jesus makes it clear that the master expected his servant to give to others what he had given the servant, and that when the servant did not then God did to the servant as the servant gave to others. I fear God would treat me as I treat others. It reminds me of the Lord's prayer. 'Forgive us our sins as we forgive others.' Maybe Jesus was asking his disciples to think about how they forgive and that God would give as they gave. 

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