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Today we get a glimpse of the human nature of Jesus as John’s gospel describes him driving merchants from the temple, overturning tables and sending men and animals scrambling. Our familiar view of Jesus as a calm and peaceful man is challenged. Jesus got angry?
Anger is a powerful human emotion. It can be a curse causing pain and guilt or it can be a gift offering insights into knowing ourselves better. It is often associated with ugliness and loss of control. In reality, it is an indicator that something is going on in your world. It is an automatic response to a situation. It is not an unnatural or bad response. It is what we do with anger that makes a difference. Our response either leads to solving a problem or aggravating it.
Like many in my generation I was brought up to be “nice.” Appearances mattered in a way different from today. Smiling happy faces were expected. My mother’s mantra was, “Be nice,” and God bless her for that as her intention was to teach her six children to be kind, caring individuals. However, that left little room for true emotions to surface in a safe place.
A few years ago I came across a wonderful book, The Angry Christian: A Theology for Care and Counseling, by Andrew Lester. (Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, London) It offers the history of how anger became one of the seven deadly sins and carefully explains how anger can be a motivating force for good rather than a tool for destruction.
Lester explains how anger can give us “the energy and willingness to speak up, speak out, march in protest, refuse to participate, resist evil and blow the whistle.” Anger can provide courage. The recent death of Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison is an example of channeling anger for the common good. He spoke out knowing it could end his life. He did not take up arms, instead, he challenged the system.
Over the last few years women within the Catholic church have created a movement focused on inclusion. Some advocate for the return of women to the diaconate and others seek a broader vision to be ordained to the priesthood. Anger at the system that left them out has been replaced with a sense of joy and anticipation for what can be.
There are benefits of anger. It can lead us to fight injustice which brings with it a re-birth of hope. It can help us learn about ourselves if we take the time to stop and question why something is making us angry. It can bring us to our knees seeking God who hears and can be trusted with the pain associated with anger.
Anger can also make us sick. It can keep us awake at night with clenched teeth and a pounding heart. It finds a way of inserting itself inappropriately into conversations and blinding us to what is happening around us. We can become so mired in anger that we become physically sick or prone to violence in words and/or deeds. Anger hurts our hearts and souls when it is left to fester.
In his book Lester makes the case that being angry at evil is a positive thing and that not being angry at evil is sinful. As we look around the world as well as close to home many of us say the same thing. How can we ignore so many rights being challenged, children going hungry, medical insurance so expensive people hesitate to go to a doctor and desperate immigrants ignored or threatened at our borders?
Jesus saw the temple, His Father’s house, a place of prayer, being used as a marketplace. It sparked his anger and he acted. At some level he knew this would not bode well for him as it meant he was going against the establishment yet knowing the sacred space of the temple was being disrespected he took action.
If we are to be disciples are there actions we need to take? Is there anger brewing beneath the surface of our lives that needs attention?
These are questions to be considered as we move forward in the Lenten season.
Peace,
Anne
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