Anger is the capital sin that I am investigating this week. Meekness is its opposing virtue.
Anger is deadly because it kills relationships. It often devastates the one whom the anger is against and enslaves the one who is is angry. It destroys marriages, family relationships, friendships and even makes individuals hateful towards God, the Church, and unsuspecting innocent parties.
"Wait", you may say, "Not all anger is a deadly sin! Isn't just anger okay?"
We are called to be like Jesus: meek and humble of heart.
Anger is deadly because it kills relationships. It often devastates the one whom the anger is against and enslaves the one who is is angry. It destroys marriages, family relationships, friendships and even makes individuals hateful towards God, the Church, and unsuspecting innocent parties.
"Wait", you may say, "Not all anger is a deadly sin! Isn't just anger okay?"
Yes. St. Paul says, "Be angry and do not sin". (Ephes. 4:26) We can be angry, have righteous indignation -- that is, be disproving and saddened by certain events with a willingness to improve the situation. This is not the same as responding in anger. For when we are "angry", we lose our reason. The angry man is an irrational man. This is because he is responding in an emotional high. In the emotional high, more often than not, his own personal vendettas and scars surface. Out comes violent words and actions; he blames, judges and condemns. His heart, even if for only a moment, is hardened, and forgiveness is far from his mind.
It only takes a moment to destroy another person. Words said can not be taken back. Blows committed can not be undone. Yes, some damage can be repaired, but evil still has escaped.
Thus, while it is okay to be rightfully disturbed by injustice, we must always safeguard our reason. In turning the other cheek, we are silently saying, "You can hurt me, even destroy my body, but you cannot control my response. You can not entice me to act out in anger -- to sin. Though you may bruise me, and even draw blood, you cannot take away my reason, my will. I will not surrender to you that control. If, and when I choose to respond, it will be with kindness, love and forgiveness. You can't take that away from me."
Thus, while it is okay to be rightfully disturbed by injustice, we must always safeguard our reason. In turning the other cheek, we are silently saying, "You can hurt me, even destroy my body, but you cannot control my response. You can not entice me to act out in anger -- to sin. Though you may bruise me, and even draw blood, you cannot take away my reason, my will. I will not surrender to you that control. If, and when I choose to respond, it will be with kindness, love and forgiveness. You can't take that away from me."
Jesus was silent at his trial. Isaiah the Prophet, foretold this:
"Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth. Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away..." (Isaiah 53:7)
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