Homily – Sunday, the Sunday 20th August 2023
Reading: Genesis 45: 1-14
What has been your best memory of forgiving or being forgiven?
The Story of the Judge and the Moon
There was an accused who kept hurling insults at the judge each time he was brought to court for trial. But the judge was never moved by any of these. One day a younger colleague asked him how he was able to take all these insults with a smile.
He said- during his younger days his neighbour had a dog who was very intolerant to the moon, As soon as the moon appears on the sky the dog would start barking and it kept on until the dog was shepherded away to the kennel. The judge said- I always noted the moon. It never bothered. It just kept shining and went on waning and waxing.
Some things we do come back to us at some point in Time.
That is what happened in the life of the brothers of Joseph who now stand before Joseph having come to seek food during the famine.
FORGIVNESS IS BEING ABLE TO BE RELEASED FROM THE PRISONS OF THE PAST
Joseph Cried Out Aloud
The memories that flashed on him
The Multi Coloured Coat
The Dream where the sun and the moon and the other stars bowed before his star and where his sheaves was worshipped by those of the family.
The Pit where they pushed the dreamer boy brother into
The Twenty Silver Coins for which he was sold
The Slave traders who took him to Egypt as a slave
The Pettifer Home where he lived
The Prison experience for no fault of his
The interpretation of the kings dream about years of plenty and years of famine
The responsibility given to Joseph to prepare for the famine
The twelve years or more that passed by
And now the same brothers are with him
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.
Sometimes it is all right to cry, Tears has the potential to cleanse away all the weight of memories that you might be holding with or without your knowledge
Allow it flow
Allow it to cleanse you
Allow it to heal you
FORGIVENESS IS BRIDGING THE DISTANCES THAT TIME AND CIRCUMSTANCES HAS CREATED
Joseph Comforted them
Then Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Come closer to me.’ And they came closer.
How far can people be
In this age of technology people can live very far away from each other but still can stay very close to each others hearts
It is also possible we stay close but hearts are far from each other
They were standing far away because they were migrants who came seeking food- power and authority held Joseph a step higher in the pedestal
They were now desiring that they were much farther away from him fearing his wrath for the wrongs they committed to him depriving him of his fathers love and all the joys and comfort of him.
Wrongs that we do create distances and it takes an active engagement to bridge it
Joseph’s call Come near to me is therefore a very profound call. In a world that is full of the phrase- Go Away from Me it is a very refreshing thought when we think of the possibilities of coming closer,
Joseph called and the brothers came closer
Yes we need that call in our lives today COME CLOSER TO ME
FORGIVENESS IS BEING ABLE TO SEE THE HAND OF GOD EVEN IN ADVERSITY
There are times we are not able to comprehend or fathom what is happening around us. Life takes topsy turvy curves and we are sometimes famished even in faith. But if we see the hand of God in and through this even when we do not have the privilege of hindsight we might be able to face some circumstances better,
Joseph saw the hand of God even in adversity.
He said, ‘I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.
God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God.
FORGIVENESS IS LETTING GO THE PAST AND BUILDING A FUTURE OF LOVE AND CARE
Joseph promises to provide for his dear ones despite all that they did
Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, “Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. 10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 I will provide for you there—since there are five more years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.”
You cannot undo the past but you surely can influence the future. He wants primarily his father to come down to him. Lost years are lost but let me use what is left to love and care. Come and be near me.
The invitation is for his children and grand children- yes the children who created all these havoc in the life of Joseph
It is for the flocks and herds and all they had
Joseph promises- I will provide for you since there are five more difficult years
I will ensure that you will not come to poverty
Yes it is all about letting go the past and building a future of love.
FORGIVENESS IS BEING ABLE TO HUG AND KISS AGAIN
Joseph hugged them and kissed them
Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.
They say, “A hug communicates a thousand words.” It brings solace, comfort and a sense of belonging and being loved. It melts down distances and inhibitions. It creates the possibility of a new beginning. Many of the conflicts in this world can be over with a genuine hug.
A hug should come from the heart and those in the embrace should both feel safe.
Hugs just tells someone you are there for them without sharing a word.
Same is the case with a kiss. The miracles that a genuine kiss can create is something beyond human imagination.
Kisses in Genesis is an interesting study, Then the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. That was the first kiss Genesis 2:7.
The first literal use of the word kiss is in Genesis 27:26. It occurred when Isaac requested that Esau, who was actually Jacob in disguise, give him one before he gave the birth right blessing.
Kisses recorded in Genesis is an interesting study- They include
Kiss as a symbol of love “Jacob offering this symbol of affection to his future wife Rachel (Genesis 29:11).
Kiss as a symbol of reconciliation. After a period of estrangement, Esau greeted his brother with this show of love (Genesis 33:4).
Kiss as a symbol of forgiveness, Joseph welcomed his brothers, as we read in our text today with this sign of forgiveness (Genesis 45:14 – 15).
Kiss as a symbol of blessing. Jacob (Israel) the grand father kissed the sons of Joseph before placing the family name upon them (Genesis 48:8 – 10).
Kiss as a symbol of affection. This sign of affection was also given by Joseph to Jacob, just before he died, as a sign of his love (Genesis 49:33 – 50:1).
Conclusion
Have you ever been forgiven?
Have you ever forgiven?
What does it feel like
Today do you think forgiveness is something I need in my life- Take the initiative. Do not wait.
Today do you think forgiveness is something I need to offer in my life. Take the initiative Do not wait.
Let us hear what God says
Come Closer To Me and Stay Near Me
Vinod Victor
August 20, 2023
Freiburg Anglican Church 
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