19th Sunday after Pentecost 30.9.18 Anger
Be angry and do not
sin. Do not let the sun go down on your anger. (Epistle)
The sin of Anger has to be one of the most frequently committed
sins, and one that just about everyone would commit.
Some express anger more overtly than others, but it can be quiet
and seething as well.
There is a righteous anger, which Our Lord manifested when
He cleared out the traders from the Temple, or when He roasted the Pharisees on
occasions. Just anger is when the basis for the anger is just. We perceive that
certain actions are against the proper order of things and we can be rightly
angry about that, for example if we see someone lighting a bushfire, or bashing
someone in the street.
In such cases we ‘hate the sin and love the sinner’, not
usually knowing the motives or state of mind of the offender but the action
itself brings on a just anger. We want the proper order of things to be
restored. This is what God wants too.
In Our Lord’s case we must understand that He did not ‘lose
His temper’. All His actions, thoughts, words were in perfect harmony at all
times. There would always be sufficient reason for anything that He did.
For the rest of us mortals, there is usually an element of
sin in our anger, even if the anger is justified. We tend to overreact, to lose
self-control or commit some injustice of our own in reply.
It is very hard for us to get all the elements right at the same
time. To correct a wrongdoer without oneself doing wrong is demanding.
We have to fortify ourselves with the right habits, to build
up the virtues, and then we are more likely to handle things the right way,
even when under pressure of temptation.
Our Lord was always ready for any temptation or emergency.
He could not be caught off guard, or having a bad day etc, such as happens to
us. We are so unpredictable, even to ourselves. We do not know what we are
likely to say or do next.
Not to be unjustly angry comes under the higher command of Charity.
Charity requires that we have a due moderation in all our thoughts, words and
actions. We look for to the best in them. We want the best even if it is not there.
We do not want to crush the bruised reed. We do not want to
hurt anyone more than is necessary for their good, and the common good.
We take no delight in revenge, or the misfortunes of others.
This does not mean we are naïve. We can see the evil; we
just wish it were not there.
For any wrong done to us, humility comes into play. Any
wrong done to us, we can deal with by remembering our own sinfulness, and not
making too much of our own importance.
Thus we are less upset for self (cf Christ and saints); and
more concerned for the evildoer; and this is where correction and punishment
come in.
In some cases not to correct could be a sin, eg someone in
authority with care for others. Sometimes we need to say less; sometimes more.
We pray for the wisdom and charity to get all these things
in the right place. We have to practise restraint in the quiet times.
With sufficient grace we will become better people, more
like Our Lord and thus more able to do as He would have done - always ready for
anyone or anything.
What comes out of us is simply an expression of what is
inside. It is all light in there, no malice or poison.
The light comes from Our Lord; may He dwell within us and guide
all our thoughts.
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