This weekend, right before we start the holy season of Lent this Wednesday, we hear a portion of Jesus’ sermon on the plain from Luke’s Gospel. We have heard from the sermon on the plain three weeks in a row. We heard the Beatitudes from the sermon on the plain a couple of weeks ago. Last Sunday, we heard Jesus tell us to love our enemies, to turn the other cheek, and to judge not lest we be judged. Today, we hear Jesus tell us that we need to look at our own faults and our own failings before we criticize our brother.
What application might today’s Gospel message have on the way we live each day? I thought about those things that plague us in life and hinder us on our journey of faith. One of the things I hear again and again in the sacrament of reconciliation is the way most of us struggle with anger. We can lash out in anger as our first instinct. We might not even realize what is setting us off. Anger as an emotion can take over our lives. However, we need to deal with our anger in a constructive manner because it will hurt our relationship with God and our relationship with others if we don’t. Our anger can also have very negative affects on our physical, spiritual, and mental health, and on the physical, spiritual, and mental health of others.
However, there is a difference between righteous and unrighteous anger. The prophets in the Old Testament had valid reasons to be angry, as they saw the people worship false idols and turn away from God. Jesus got angry at different times in the Gospels as well, such as the time he confronted the money changers in the Temple. Nevertheless, we still need to deal with righteous anger in a constructive, healthy way. Unrighteous anger is something else. Based on how we perceive a given situation, we may get angry and blow that situation out of proportion. Unrighteous anger can happen when someone blows up in road rage or lashes out at someone when they disagree with his point of view. We can see that happening in political discussions as well.
So, how can we deal with our anger in a way that is appropriate to our journey of discipleship? First and most, importantly, we can take time out and cool down. Don’t make that phone call and don’t send that email when your anger is getting the best of you. I have sometimes waited weeks in certain situations before I could rationally talk to a person about a certain situation. Sometimes, that can be very prudent.
Also, it is important take time to reflect and pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you look at the true cause of your anger and help you decide the best way to handle it. Ask the Blessed Mother through the rosary pray to give you patience and a clear vision.
We can also talk to a friend or a trusted advisor or a spiritual advisor. They can give us an objective opinion and help identify options you might not have thought about. And just by saying the words out loud to another person, we can see what is going on in a clear light.
One thing that is important is to not deny how you are feeling. If you are angry, admit you are angry and try to deal with it in an honest, constructive way. Try to identify what you are angry about. If you try to deny your anger, it can fester and can manifest itself in some really awful ways in your life.
Finally, going through an examination of conscience and the sacrament of reconciliation on a regular basis can help us better deal with our anger and be more proactive in living out our Catholic faith.
If we are not used to expressing our anger in a positive, constructive way, dealing with our anger will take time, effort, and prayer. It is not easy dealing with our anger, that is for sure. But, if we are going to truly live as disciples of Christ, we must find ways to develop the virtues and the skills to deal with our anger.
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