Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Genesis 44:18-21.23b-29.45:1-5; Matthew I0:7-15)
In his 2002 World Day of Peace message, Pope St. John Paul
II wrote that there is no peace without justice and that there is no justice
without forgiveness. The latter is a
necessary component of peace because it is Impossible for people to work
together with enmity filling their hearts.
In today’s first reading Joseph shows required forgiveness toward his
brothers.
Of course, Jesus is the teacher and exemplar par excellence
of forgiveness. It has a central
place in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 6:14-15).
He likewise wills to forgive when he prays to his Father for his
executioners (Lk 23:24). Joseph
anticipates these actions as he forgives his brothers for selling him into
slavery.
Forgiveness does not come easily. Sometimes we are hurt so bad that it is hard
to wish another well. Then we must pray
like Jesus for the will to allow others find the road to salvation.
