Wednesday 7th October -Memorial of our Lady of the Rosary

Reflection: Jonah 4: l-11

ARE YOU RIGHT TO BE ANGRY?

“An angry man is again angry with himself when he returns to reason”
Publilus Syrus (85-43 BC)

Anger is an emotion that expresses one’s dissatisfaction of a situation. Most of us can identify with this emotion as various events or people may have at one time or another caused us to be angry. Yet, as common as this emotion is, it often clouds our reasoning and may become an opening to greivious sins. We can be quick to condemn Jonah for his anger at the mercy God showed the people of Nineveh. Yet we are often very much like him in our expression of anger and God’s question to him applies to us too: “Are you right to be angry?”

Though we may be unable to determine what people do to us or prevent others from acting in unpleasant ways to us, we can determine how we respond to those encounters. No one has the power to make you angry if you decide within yourself not to get angry. In addition, when we encounter situations that anger us, it is our responsibility as Christians not to remain angry for a long time but to forgive the offender. Hence, scripture tells us: “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.” (Eph 4:26).

Examine yourself today. What are those situations that you permit to get you angry? How do you speak and act when you are angry? Is your temper controllable? Beloved, our emotions are within our control and we are responsible for all our actions, regardless of whether or not we were aroused by others. Despite Moses’ intimacy with God and all the efforts and sacrifice he had put into the exodus, he was refused entry into the Promised Land because he was unable to control his temper. Today, ask the Holy Spirit for the grace to be patient and gentle with others and be willing to cooperate with that grace.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, please forgive me for the times I have sinned through anger. Grant me the grace of gentility and self control. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 396 – How does a Christian deal with anger?

Paul says, “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Eph 4:26).  Anger is initially a natural emotion, a reaction to perceived injustice. If anger becomes hatred, however, and someone has ill-will toward his neighbor, this normal feeling becomes a serious offense against charity. All uncontrolled anger, especially thoughts of revenge, are detrimental to peace and destroy “the tranquility of order”.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Be not quick to anger, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools” Ecclesiastes 7:9 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Jonah 4: 1-11; Psalm 86: 3-6, 9-10; Luke 11: 1-4