Wednesday, July 10, 2019

14th Week, Ordinary Time, Thursday, 11-07-19

Genesis 44:18-21, 23-29; 45:1-5 / Matthew 10:7-15

Doing something charitable or magnanimous would be easier if there is some motivation.

But if it is done just for the sake of ourselves, and only we stand to benefit, then of course we can't call that charity or for the good of others. In fact, that would be rather selfish and self-centred.

So if something charitable or magnanimous is done for someone or for others, the motivation is greater because we want that someone or those persons to benefit and feel happy about what we did for them.

In the 1st reading, Joseph had a choice of how to treat his brothers for the harm they had done to him for wanting to kill him and then selling him off as a slave.

He could have taken the opportunity to take revenge on them, now that he has power and authority over them.

But he took pity on them and forgave them. More so when he heard that his father is still alive, he knew that his father would also want him to forgive his brothers.

But over and above everything else, Joseph forgave his brothers because he knew that God had arranged for this to happen. In other words, he forgave his brothers because he wanted to do it for God.

Similarly, if we were to forgive others, do something charitable for others, or do some good for others, let us do it because we want to do it for God.

And as we offer to God all  the good that we can do, then God is glorified and we too will receive blessings from God.