Forgiving your scoundrel brothers

It seems we have been talking about forgiveness for weeks now in our weekly lessons.  (The Church has been talking about forgiveness since the cross).  It has been a deep and thoughtful conversation.

Like the whole episode of Joseph and his recalcitrant brothers that we find at the end of the Joseph saga.  The saga begins about Genesis 35 but we are looking at the final verses in chapter 50.

Joseph is one of 12 brothers, the sons of Jacob also known as Israel.  He is his father's favorite.  He knows it and he flaunts it.  He's one of those trumped up brothers who lorded himself over his older brothers.  After a while, they had had enough and became so angry and jealous that they sold him into slavery!  How's that for revenge.

But as God would have it, years down the road those same brothers needed food during a famine and suprise of surprises, Joseph was the person with the power to say Yes or No.  That gets us to this tender scene between the brothers and Joseph.  (BTW Joseph said yes).

Jacob has died and the brothers are concerned that without his influence, Joseph will take his revenge.  So bowing before Jsoeph, and lying through their teeth, these men claim that their father's dying wish was for Jseoph to forgive his brothers.  At this point in the story, Joseph wept.

Here's the question:  why?  Was it out of frustration because he know his brothers were scoundrels and would always be scoundrels?  Was it out of disappointment over all the years he had missed while he and his family were parted?  Was it out of anger that, in fact, Joseph might still be angry at them but they were the only family he had?

Or could it be this?  Joseph wept because, in fact, he had forgiven them long, long ago and it had taken until this moment for them to be ready to receive this forgiveness.  At this moment, the family could truly be reunited and a new life begun.

because.....isn't that how God loves and forgives us?  God's heart is a heart of forgiveness waiting for us to open our hearts to this healing resurrection to new life. 

Oh yes.  I think this is the best of all possible explanations and I would be embarrassed to admit that I didn't think of it* except that God's forgiveness is never ever something to be embarrassed over.  It is something to celebrate and live. 

Celebrate my friends - new life is yours in the forgiveness of God through Jesus.  I think that deserves and Alleluia!

*thanks to Darlene for her insightful response to this story.  It was a gift to me, and I think to us all.

Frozen in time.....

The Advent of our Lord is fast upon us......or so those among us who speak in liturgical language might claim.  It's December 21st and the final frenzy of preparation is in progress.  The gift list is being double checked to make sure everyone is 'covered' and the gift wrapping is in full swing in some hidden locale within the house, and some cookies are being baked for that holiday exchange at the office, and the grocery list is being assembled for the big shop that precedes the big cook....well, I guess I don't have to tell you, right?

Meanwhile, church secretaries are finalizing bulletins, altar guilds are arranging poinsettias, the cleaning crews are dusting and the pastor is making last minute visits, writing a sermon, confirming all the assistants and ordering pizza for Christmas Eve (since she never cooks on that night!).

For many the very busy - ness of it all is wonderful. Hanging the stockings, pulling out the fancy clothes for Christmas Eve services, sneaking one more cookie.  All this frenzy - and at the center of it all is a frozen ceramic Mary and Joseph, some straw, a few sheep and maybe a donkey, all gathered in a western version of a stable.  The same Mary and Joseph that have been stoically stuck in that stable for your lifetime....and the lifetime before them.

Stuck.  Frozen in time.  In fact, for many, Mary and Joseph have simply become the background wallpaper that provides the excuse for immersing ourselves in family tradition and the gathering of friends.

The outrageous claim that the love of God took on human flesh in the person of Jesus, born 2000 years ago, and yet alive today among and between us......is lost.  Gone.  Frozen into a dilute yet beautifully rendered tableau of mother and child, with Joseph thrown in for good measure.

"Jesus is the reason for the season"  Yes.  But I think Jesus is no longer at the center of the season or the celebration.  Jesus is frozen to a time long, long ago in a place far, far away. Can it be that the only Jesus you know is the ceramic one that is pulled out and dusted off for Christmas Eve services?

If so, then maybe next week, when the hoopla has died down, you might want to stop by for a chat, to talk about the world that is killing you and the Savior who waits to give you life.  There are no gifts needed, no special decorations or fancy cookies.

I will spring for the coffee at Panera though because, you don't want to miss knowing this living, life giving Jesus.  You don't want to miss out on the hope that he brings into our lives.  You don't want to navigate one more year on your own when the Prince of Peace is waiting to walk with you.

Let's defrost the baby Jesus and allow him to work in our lives.  It's not too late; it's the best present you'll receive.  Come, holy Jesus.