Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30 / Matthew 10:16-23
When it comes to father and son relationships, what we often hear is the tension, the differences, the generation gap and all those aspects that paint a bleak picture of such relationships.
So essentially, the matter is about the love between father and son, and the fact that it is often a strained love, resulting in father-and-son tensions.
But in the 1st reading, we hear of a very moving story of a father and son relationship.
Joseph was separated from his father for more than 20 years and now, finally, Jacob was united with his son whom he thought was dead.
And all this while, Jacob had not forgotten Joseph, and Joseph was eager to see his aged father after all those years.
That tearful reunion brought about joy and peace for Jacob and Joseph, and for Jacob it was the final fulfillment of his life.
Yet in the gospel, the tension between father and son is brought up again, and this time it's even more heart-rending because it has sunk deeper into betrayal and hate.
It's a reality which we read about in the papers and which we may even see around us or even happening to us.
Let us pray that God who is our Father may pour forth His love into those hurting father and son relationships and that there may be healing and reconciliation.
Like Jacob and Joseph, may fathers and sons also see each other as their fulfillment in life and may the love between Jesus and His Father be the model of their relationships.