1 Thess 2:9-13 / Matthew 23:27-32
There is quite a difference between the parenting styles of a father and a mother.
Mothers tend to have an emotionally nurturing role and they talk more to their children, and they tend to "talk-out" the issues involving discipline.
Fathers, on the other hand, tend to be more keen on helping and challenging their children to face the real world, and from a disciplinary standpoint, they tend to impose consequences more quickly and then talk later.
So it may be a male tendency to eradicate and eliminate what is obstructing and opposing them.
In the gospel, Jesus brought out a sore point from the past. He admonished the scribes and Pharisees by saying that they were doing exactly what their fathers had done in the past - they shed the blood of the prophets.
Yes, they had learnt well from their fathers and there was no denying it that they were doing exactly what their fathers did.
Certainly that was not a very positive image of fatherhood. But then the 1st reading gives a view on the other side of the coin.
St. Paul told the Thessalonians that he worked hard for them, and treated them right and fair, just as how a good father would treat his children.
A good father would teach his children what is right, encouraging them and appealing to them to live a life worthy of God so that they would have a share in God's kingdom.
And that is not just about fathers. Any good teacher, superior, manager, leader is called to do likewise.
And for every Christian, one of the spiritual works of mercy is to instruct the ignorant.
So let us live a life worthy of God, and then we will be able to teach others what is right and good.