1. Kings 18:41-46 2. Gospel: Mt 5:20-26
"Do we benefit from anger?"
Why Jesus got angry in the temple? He got angry because people were turning the temple into a market place. Furthermore he got angry with the scribes because they valued the law more than the hunger of the disciples. He got angry with the pharisees because they valued the law more than the crippled man who could not walk. He got angry with the scribes and the pharisees and called them brood of vipers.
What is Jesus saying here? Does he mean that we must not get angry? The anger of the Lord referred to in the gospel is not the same as anger in the temple or the anger at the Pharisees or the anger at Scribes because they were heart-hearted. The anger that the Lord refers to in the Gospel is anger that is nourished, anger that is nurtured, anger that is enlarged which is resentment, which is developed throughout the years. Anger that we don't like let go.
In advanced psychological studies, modern psychologists call such kind of anger a resentment which turn to resistance, and then builds up towards revenge. We all know that, quietly from a distance, when we see misfortune on the one who did us wrong, we say, " sweet revenge."
How Jesus calls us to respond to such kind of resentment, resistance and revenge?
First, is communication. It is advised that if you feel resentment and resistance in your heart, you must talk. Talk about your feelings/share your feelings with those concerned. Communicate, build bridges and not walls.
Second is compromise. This is not all about compromise with evil. It is rather to look for meeting points, to look for halfway points where one party can give a way and the other can give way and people can meet halfway, without compromising morality without compromising commandments. To bring reconciliation, there are somethings that we must keep absolutely but we must learn to give way.
Last, is about Contemplation. When we have met halfway, let us look at the same direction and pray.
Hakuna maoni:
Chapisha Maoni