ANGER…

Micah 7:14-15,18-20

14 Shepherd thy people with thy staff, the flock of thy inheritance, who dwell alone in a forest in the midst of a garden land; let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old.15 As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt I will show them marvelous things.

18 Who is a God like thee, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger for ever because he delights in steadfast love.19 He will again have compassion upon us, he will tread our iniquities under foot. Thou wilt cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.20 Thou wilt show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as thou hast sworn to our fathers from the days of old.

Matthew 12:46-50 

46 While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood outside, asking to speak to him.47 * Other ancient authorities insert: Some one told him, “Your mother and your brethren are standing outside, asking to speak to you” 48 But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brethren?”
49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brethren! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

MEDITATION

MICAH THE PROPHET recall the disunity that was caused by Labans sons who falsely accused Jacob of stealing their fathers wealth.The family fracture between Laban and his father-in-law, caused Jacob many sleepless nights until God rebuked Laban, telling him to establish a peace covenant with Jacob. Gn 31:46  

THE GOSPEL READING: Our Lord is interupted and dismissed by his Pharisaic hearers who have frankly had enough of His lecturing; telling Him to go to His mother, brothers and sisters who wish to speak to Him! Our Lord recognized their snide remark when He elevates, applauding His mother and the twelve disciples, whom He considered to rightly identifiy as His bretheren, because unlike the stubborn know -it -all pharisees, they “do” the will of the Father!

Internescine family squabbles are poisonous to the extent that it can be said to be a generational curse that is propogated; promoted and even celebrated by those who refuse to forgive and  reconcle! We who continously harvest the past, keeping it alive to reafirm our hatred, are drinking from a poisonous well, hoping that our enemiies go to hell. All of us are called to do the will of the Father; excorcise the demonic spirit, let go of our anger, reconcile and be compassionate and loving to our family members. 

LET US PRAY: Psalms 85:2-8 

2 Thou didst forgive the iniquity of thy people; thou didst pardon all their sin. [Selah]3 Thou didst withdraw all thy wrath; thou didst turn from thy hot anger.
4 Restore us again, O God of our salvation, and put away thy indignation toward us!
5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? Wilt thou prolong thy anger to all generations?6 Wilt thou not revive us again, that thy people may rejoice in thee?7 Show us thy steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.
8 Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints, to those who turn to him in their hearts.

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days.