Please read the passage before the commentary.
Is it wrong to be angry? We are often angry, when we feel overwhelmed by evil, when we feel we have lost control of a bad situation. Is it wrong to feel anger in such circumstances?
We do not like the feeling of anger or being angry. We have learned from our earliest days to avoid anger. But when we have to care of a beloved spouse or child day-in day-out without respite, at time we shall experience anger; it is our body’s way of demanding help. It is our body’s way of saying “help me!”.
God has built this mechanism into our lives and it has a good purpose. It enables us to overcome problems in our lives. It is not a sin or something to feel anger.
When wrath or anger becomes vengeful, however, it is wrong and destroys relationships and people. We are not permitted to kill people, to lie to get out of problems, to destroy people or property.
It is good to use anger to improve or repair situations. Anger at a messy house may propel someone to do some house cleaning.
Cherishing anger builds hate, but working against agner is a virtue.
God forgives us our sins no matter what they are. Jesus is God’s way of saying our sins are forgiven and God is not mad at us.
If anger is lack of forgiveness, then we must lay aside anger as we die. When we die we come before God, trusting in God’s forgiveness and that the offenses we refuse to forgive are seven trillion times smaller than what God has forgiven us.
Sirach’s advice is simple, “Overlook faults.” Jesus’ is to “forgive your brother from your heart.”
Leave a Reply