Holiness perfects Love—Anger destroys both
In today’s First Reading we’re reminded of a characteristic of holiness that boils down to this: Don’t let anger control your heart. It doesn’t say don’t get angry, because that’s an emotion we can’t control. Instead, it says don’t let this powerful emotion control you by giving it a place in your heart. To be truly holy means not letting other people’s bad actions seep into your heart causing you to falter in your love for them. If you need to tell someone that they’ve acted wrongly, it should be in a spirit of fraternal correction, which is simply helping others to see the wrong they’ve done. Grudges and a desire for revenge are signs that you’ve let something toxic creep into your heart, which taints your love toward others.
In today’s Second Reading St Paul reminds us that hatred, which is the fruit of uncontrolled anger, not only seeks the destruction of the person we hate but brings destruction upon us as well. The Church defines anger as: “An emotion which is not in itself wrong, but which, when not controlled by reason, or when it hardens into resentment and hate, becomes one of the seven deadly sins.”
I like Frederick Buechner’s definition of anger: “Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back—in many ways it’s a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback, however, is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you.”
The powerful Virtue of Meekness
In a world that’s focused on revenge and pay-back, Jesus reminds us today of the powerful virtue of meekness, which is simply the ability to endure injury with patience and without resentment or the need for revenge. Meekness is often considered a weakness, but it’s actually a very heroic effort not to give in to your desire for revenge. Jesus himself has set the standard for meekness. How many strikes to the face and body did he receive? As God, he didn’t have to sacrifice himself for us. When Adam and Eve sinned God could have just left us in the mess they’d made. Instead, he humbled himself by taking on our humanity and willingly accepted the cross.
Don’t get mad—Get praying!
Today’s society is filled with ways of losing your temper, inspired by the principle of “Don’t get mad, get even!” But our Lord’s response in today’s Gospel is the exact opposite: “Don’t get mad, get praying!” After praying, then talk to your manager if you’ve got a problem. After praying, keep driving calmly and forgive the guy who’s tailgating you. Guard the words that come out of your mouth. Take time for a walk in order to cool down. In today’s edgy, thin-skinned, irritable society that’s a tall order. It’s not something we can accomplish overnight. The best way is to contemplate Christ crucified when we think we’re about to lose it.
Jesus didn’t just preach meekness in today’s Gospel; he lived it. None of us have been mistreated as badly as him, and he took every insult and injury that we gave him without complaining and without plotting revenge against us. Through the spiritual exercise of contemplation, you’ll be able to see the Lord in your mind as he humbly and meekly accepted his cross for your salvation. Through contemplation and divine grace, we achieve the recollection we need to keep us from losing control, as well as the ability to see how beautiful charity toward others truly is.
In one and a half weeks we begin the beautiful season of Lent. Ask the Lord to help you begin this season with a humble and meek heart.