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We have three powerful scriptures about love, forgiveness, and selfless life in light of eternity. Joseph finds the grace to extend mercy to his brothers. Paul holds up selfless living--dying unto one's self--as the basis for resurrection and Jesus calls us to love even our enemies instead of judging.

Genesis 45:3-11, 15-Coming Undone

Years have passed since last Sunday when we left Joseph abandoned in a well, then pulled out and sold into slavery. Today's lesson ends the cycle with Joseph revealing his identity to his brothers. After the stirring speech and courageous act of Judah to offer himself in place of Joseph's blood brother, Benjamin, Joseph changes his tormenting cat and mouse strategy. Actually, he has no choice. He comes undone. "I am Joseph," he tells his brothers. His earlier dreams have finally come true, though in very unexpected ways. He had thought the dreams were all about arrogating power and ruling over family members, but in the end Joseph discovers that God has had all along a much larger, much grander purpose in mind-to sustain life in the time of drought.

1 Cor 15:35-38, 42-50 --

Anybody who has thought about heaven, has likely wondered about what life will be like in this place as well as what our resurrected selves will look like. St. Paul's thoughts are: those answers are unrevealed until it's season. Only God alone knows. These questions are not important right now, we should be concerned about sowing the right seeds, the seeds of a selfless life in the promise of eternity. That attitude will surely surely produce something beautiful.

Luke 6:27-38 --

This passage features some of the most radical and powerful words Jesus uttered. There are two themes here: the first part of this passage (V27-36) talks about radical love--love in the face of hatred. Who can show and live such love except God and yet, rabbi Jesus seems to be expecting to find it among his disciples. In the second part (V37-38) Jesus describes a non-judgmental attitude that is no doubt a reflection of his own approach to life and ministry.