The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, August 16, 2020

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Emmaus, PA

Reflections on The Season of Pentecost

The Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, August 16, 2020

By Rev. Jane Bender

What’s Forgiveness Got to Do With Money? Everything.
Image source: Bari Tessler Blog

Dear St. Margaret’s Family,

Greetings to you all and I hope this letter finds you well!

As you may have noticed, I usually write my reflection message about the Gospel Reading of the day.  This week’s reading is, yet again, a powerful, life-altering story of the “Healing of the of the Canaanite Woman’s Daughter”.  Please do read and reflect on it, as well as the beautiful Psalm 133 which states in the first verse: “Oh, how good and pleasant it is, when brethren live together in unity!”  How we need this unity in our present civic life!

This week I want to focus on the Genesis story of the Re-union of Joseph with his brothers. This week’s story is one of ecstatic joy – of the mystery and power of forgiveness. The joy is so profound and overwhelming that Joseph weeps uncontrollably indeed cries out so loud “that Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me.” So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?”  But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence. (They were dismayed because they assumed that Joseph would seek hatred and harsh revenge towards his brothers.  As you remember, his brothers had left him in a pit to die but he was captured by the Egyptians. )

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer. He said, “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”. 

Joseph’s generous, forgiving out-pouring of unconditional love for his brothers, who had grievously wronged him, moved everyone to tears, indeed weeping.

“…Joseph fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.”

It was utterly and totally transformational for ALL.  The joy and peace that passes ALL understanding!

May forgiveness transform your life this day – and this week – and in the days to come.

God bless you and keep you in God’s loving embrace,

Jane+