Prayers for Peace Reflection

This week's 3 minute reflection offered at tonight's Prayer for Peace (Gen 50:4-end)

The Genesis reading touches upon something very fundamental about why in disagreements or conflicts, we have a hard time making peace.

One of the hardest things to do can be to own our mistakes, humble ourselves to apologize or be vulnerable enough to offer forgiveness--especially when we consider our own ability to forgive such actions in a reverse situation.

Joseph's brothers wonder if in Jacob's absence, Joseph will be able to truly forgive them for their cruelty and hatred decades earlier.

The brothers are filled with fear--fear of retaliation. And why would they be fearful if they didn't feel guilty of having done something aweful? In Jacob's death, the first thing emphasized after the mourning period is their guilt and their fear.

We can recognize this fear in a military that arms youth and young adults with machine guns. WE can see this fear in the face of those who are unsure whether or not to cross an imaginary dividing line between East and West. We can see this fear etched in stone walls that keep the "wrong kind" of people away from the "right kind" of people. We can hear this fear in the justification of an occupation based on 'security.'

However, just as fear and guilt accompanies real life conflicts, one party among Joseph and his brothers had to humble themselves to feel out whether forgiveness was possible. One side had to be gracious enough to offer forgiveness.

Whether the brother's gesture actually stemmed from advice given by Jacob is irrelevant. What is important is that the brothers understand: it is not for Joseph to hold a grude or punish the acts of the living. That is God's job. Joseph reminds them of the good that has come from the tragedy--something that is often very hard for us to see through our fear or anger. Josephe puts his brothers at east, finally puting an end to the lifelong jealousy, hatred, fear and guilt.

Joseph returns the cruelty he received with kindness. And it is the combined efforts which contribute to a durable peace between them.