Men's Rosary

Anger is a basic human emotion, and one that needs to be kept in check. Being one who can have a hot temper, I understand this and have worked on it. It is not easy! The problem with human anger is that it is prone to corruption by pride and selfishness. It becomes about us, our feelings, our plans, our hopes. It ignores the person, thing, or situation and hyper focuses on the self. In the moment, we may feel strong and in control; but the reality is, we weaken ourselves and loose control. “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” (Proverbs 16:32) This kind of anger does us harm in many ways. It harms our body and well-being, it harms our relationships, it harms others health and well-being. It has more capacity to make things worse than to improve situations. “Know this my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20)

There is a time when anger is good. This would be righteous anger. It differs from pure human anger in that it is not about the self, rather it is a reaction to a wrong, injustice, or violation of moral principle. We see this in Scripture when Moses breaks the first tablets of the Ten Commandments when he comes down from the mountain to find the people, led by Aaron, worshipping the golden calf after God had delivered them from Egypt (Exodus 32:19-20). We see it again when Jesus became angry in the temple area and drove out those who bought and sold in the temple and upset the money changers tables and the seats of those who sold pigeons, because they were turning a house of prayer into a den of thieves (Matthew 21:12-13). So, this would be “just” anger. Anger for the greater good, and we are all called to this out of love for others. “He who is not angry when there is just cause for anger is immoral. Why? Because anger looks to the good of justice. If you can live amid injustice without anger, you are immoral as well as unjust.” (St. Thomas Aquinas)

Righteous anger then, must be paired with mercy and forgiveness. Mercy looks upon another who suffers, and forgiveness is mercy to one’s offender. This is to become like Christ. It is true that we can only forgive one who is sorry for their offenses and desires forgiveness. Contrition is necessary for forgiveness. But often we cut off the path to forgiveness through contrition because human anger takes the place of righteous anger. No matter the offense or circumstance we are called to love everyone – to will their good. This love will only be found in righteous anger, and it creates the space for contrition and forgiveness. We can look to the offender with mercy and see that they are suffering and it is that suffering that lead to the offense. We can then extend this mercy to the offender and allow the opportunity for contrition and we can offer forgiveness. In our righteous anger we judge the behavior, not the person, for that is only for God to do. We should be understanding of others and want the best for them. We must love all – the good and the bad among us. It is difficult at times but needed, nonetheless. “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes the sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Matthew 5:44-45)

Human anger, while a natural emotion must be brief and issues should be resolved promptly so to not let anger become wrath or resentment. “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” (Ephesians 4:26-27)

Righteous anger, while good, needs to make space for charity, contrition, and forgiveness. While we may judge the circumstance, deed or situation, the people involved are all children of God, created in his image. We are to love them, not judge them. God will judge us in his righteous judgement. We should pray for one another and help each other get to heaven. In the face of this anger, we should love and make room to forgive those who ask for forgiveness. It is not ours to withhold.

“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” (St. Mother Teresa)