But Moses implored the LORD, his God, saying,
“Why, O LORD, should your wrath blaze up against your own people,
whom you brought out of the land of Egypt
with such great power and with so strong a hand?
Why should the Egyptians say,
‘With evil intent he brought them out,
that he might kill them in the mountains
and exterminate them from the face of the earth’?
Let your blazing wrath die down;
relent in punishing your people.
Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel,
and how you swore to them by your own self, saying,
‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky;
and all this land that I promised,
I will give your descendants as their perpetual heritage.'”
So the LORD relented in the punishment
he had threatened to inflict on his people.

Exodus 32: 11-14

Here are the complete readings for Thursday, April 3, 2025.

(“Moses and the Adoration of the Golden Calf” by Marc Chagall)

Think about a time when you were enraged at someone. Maybe you were completely justified to feel upset, but you either reacted with an outburst or you started carrying that anger around as a giant chip on your shoulder. Who are the people in your life whom you trust so deeply that they were able to intervene on your behalf? They were supportive and acknowledged that you had been hurt, but were able to speak to the real you who was suffocating underneath the anger. Perhaps at first you didn’t appreciate them asking you to check yourself, or calling you out for your behavior. Yet the fact that they put themselves in a vulnerable place speaks to how much they value their relationship with you, and want to prevent you from isolating yourself further. Your bond with these people is special, for the affection they feel for you is unconditional. It can survive disagreements and hurt feelings, even if one person in the relationship is clearly working harder to preserve it than the other at that moment. In the Judeo-Christian tradition, this is the basis for the covenant relationship that God has with God’s people. In a fascinating twist in the Exodus story, it appears that it is actually Moses who, clear headed and full of faith, reminds God of the unbreakable covenant between them. Talk about courage! Actually, it is Moses’ trust in God and the covenant that we should admire. Deep down, no matter how we may decide our own path is more desirable, God remains connected to us. In the Gospel, Jesus reminds his contemporaries who are ignoring the miracles taking place in front of them that these wonders can only be possible because of the bond between God and humanity. Getting angry is a very human thing to do. It is a blessing to have neighbors and loved ones to remind us of our humanity.

As a follower of Jesus,
and in relationship with one another,
keep ever before you
the motto of the congregation:
Concordia res parvæ crescunt.
In harmony small things grow.
For it is only in harmony
that you will grow,
that your community will grow,
that the love of God will grow in your world,
and that the reign of God will grow to completeness.

– The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God, thank you for family, friends, and colleagues who care about me enough to tell me when I am not acting like the person they know. Help me to be honest with myself and with the situation I face. On this day, remind me that during moments of frustration and disappointment, you give me insight and wisdom for how to be the person you call me to be and who my loved ones recognize as their own.

Amen