By Fr. Adolf Washington –
Is it alright to be angry? Philosopher Aristotle said, “Anybody can become angry; that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way—that is not easy!”
Jesus too got angry but it was ‘Holy anger’. At the temple of Jerusalem, he saw people buying and selling and indulging in money-changing within the sacred precincts of the temple. He overturned the tables of money-changers and drove them out saying “It is written “My house will be called a house of prayer but you are making it a den of robbers” (Matthew 21:12-13) He wanted to protect the sanctity of the place of worship.
‘Holy anger’ is a reaction against any violation God’s name or God’s glory and not my name and or status. It more concerned with the offense against God than the offense against oneself. When your malicious anger changes to ‘Holy anger’, your friends increase, you have power over your sleep, your appetite, your work, your relationships, you are at peace and even your worship finds true meaning.
We sometimes carry anger in our minds for too long leading us to evil thoughts and actions and are never at peace.Saint Paul writes “When you are angry, do not sin, and be sure to stop being angry before the end of the day” (Ephesians 4:26).
A man who saw a farmer mercilessly whip his mule while he ploughed in the hot sun said “Look, its’ not my business to teach you how to plough. But don’t you think it would be kind if you would rather make some sounds like “hoo hoo” or “gee gee” and get the beast to plough instead of mercilessly whipping it?”
The farmer replied “Three years ago this donkey kicked me with his hind legs and ever since we have not been in talking-terms”.
Unholy anger leads to evil thoughts and actions. But if associated with a Holy disposition, it is followed by forgiveness and wins people to God. Jesus was angry at un-Godly acts but He loved and forgave unceasingly.
Holy anger is coupled with a spirit of forgiveness and accompanied by a sincere desire to get people closer to God.
Is your anger ‘Holy anger’ or ‘unholy anger’?