My Thoughts on 26/02/2021

In today’s Gospel Jesus warns us against anger. I think you can have a calm and peaceful exterior and be churned up with anger on the inside. Anger as a feeling is neither right or wrong. St Paul in Ephesians 4:26–27 says “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil.”

We can feel anger about the injustice done to others, and about hurtful things done to us. Yet we know that it is so easy for such a feeling to take hold of us in such a way that we become disturbed, engendering in us thoughts and words that lead us to hurt others. For example we can let our anger lead us to giving someone the silent treatment. We can find ourselves guilty of slander and talking about the person to others in a disparaging way. I always remember a woman telling me that when her and her husband had an argument she would leave a note of love and sorrow on his pillow so that the sun would not go down on their anger as they went to sleep.

It is also good to remember we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a means of healing. As we meet Christ and hear the words of absolution we can be confident that we have the grace to go forward knowing that Jesus is with us, and is our strength and guide in times of anger and frustration. He is the one who frees us from any anger that grips our heart.