“Guard against the leaven of the Pharisee and Herod...”
Anger is something we are all familiar with; it is all around us. It is expressed in various ways, quarrelling with those nearest to us, envying others, rejoicing in their ill-fortune, speaking disrespectfully or seeking victory that harms others or even us as individuals, failing people who are in danger. Anger is an emotion we all struggle with at one time or another. Even saints have been known to struggle with controlling their anger. Historians think Jesus nicknamed the apostles James and John the “Sons of thunder “because of their anger, if you read some of the letters of St. Paul there are occasions when Paul had some outbursts whenever he felt that the gospel he preached was being misunderstood, St. Therese of Lisieux, the little Flower had to work on controlling his anger.
Anger Destroys
Considering that fact, Jesus delivers profound teachings that challenge conventional notions of righteousness and relationships. He states that, “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” In other words, he contrasts the external show of piety displayed by the pharisees with the genuine transformation of the heart that true righteousness entails. It is not merely about following rules outwardly but about a deep inner change that reflects a sincere faith in God. And when it comes to the issue of anger, it is not just about not expressing the anger externally rather also it is important to be reflective about our anger, so that we can be able to recognize its destructive power that resides deep within our hearts and how it influences our external actions:
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Jesus invites us to not just watch the commandments, for external observance is not enough, real virtue is in the heart. Authenticity in our relationship with God is important.
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Although actions and behavior were important, Jesus often focuses on what resides in the human heart, the wellspring of our actions. We have the commandment not to kill, but for Jesus even hatred and anger (i.e. violence in the heart, often expressed by abusive language) must be addressed if transformation is to take place in our lives.
This what Lenten season is inviting us to focus on, that is, to look below the surface of what we do and say, to reflect deeply on what lies within our hearts. What emotions and attitudes do we have, that consciously or unconsciously influence and lead us to relate to others in ways that are disrespectful or worse.
Reflect on what Lies Within Our Hearts
The church provides this Lenten time for us to be able to renew our hearts,
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To grow in awareness with regards to which kind of forces influence our actions both good and bad. It is only with such a deep-seated transformation and renewal that can give rise to a way of living that conform to God’s will for our lives.
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The seat of desire and choice is the heart. Unless unconstructive anger is eradicated from within, the heart will remain corrupted. The call for us during this Lenten season is to create and utilize moments of silence to listen to God’s voice as it encourages us to embrace God’s love and share that love through reconciliation, forgiveness and love.
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Let us heed the call to pursue genuine righteousness, rooted in love and authenticity.
- Today’s Readings
- Father Fulgen's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join, too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
