ANGER

INTRODUCTION

The title and topic for my homily is just one word: “Anger.”

So a few words about anger on this 6^th Wednesday in Ordinary Time.

FIRST READING: JAMES

James in today’s first reading says to be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for anger does not accomplish the righteousness of God.

James is very practical – and talks about issues we’re all aware of.

He says a lot in today’s first reading -  but I stopped at anger – as a topic to think and pray about for today.

ANGER

Anger is a strong feeling  of annoyance – irritation – displeasure.

James tells us to be slow to speak, to scream, to yell.

A better use of time is to ask: “What’s the trigger?”

If it’s us who is angry – we might be able to name the trigger.

If it’s another who is angry, we might not know what triggered another’s anger.

I’ve lived in community for over 50 years – so I know some of the things that get me angry or frustrated: noisy people – especially when I’m trying to sleep, people who are too early for things – and as a result they expect me to be early as well.

For example, at the last place I was stationed, we had confessions on Saturday afternoon at 3:45 and then Mass at 4:30. Well, two guys would get there at 3 PM. When it was my turn I’d get there at 3:35 or 3:40 – that’s 5 or 10 minutes early – but if myself or the other guy -  2 were scheduled every Saturday  - were close to 3:45 we’d get the complaints or the watch tappers when we came in. That got me angry.

Anger managers teach people to take the time to appraise – to figure out - why certain things get us angry.  Appraisal is the key world.

My appraisal why I didn’t like these guys who went out for confessions too early was: I don’t want to look late or lazy.

What do you get angry about?

Everyone has their buttons.

Is it “pasta again” or cold food  or every time I want to tell a story, I get cut off by so and so.   Is it control issues?  Is it a fairness issue?

All the specialists about anger say anger can be good – when injustice is taking place – or someone is hurting someone else.

All the specialists about anger say there is always the “It all depends” situation when it comes to anger. People get more angry when driving in traffic – and they are behind schedule and they got to be somewhere and traffic is extra heavy – compared to if there is no rush.

Aristotle wrote,  “Anybody can become angry — that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way — that is not within everybody's power and is not easy.”

TODAY’S GOSPEL FROM MARK

As we all know Jesus got angry when he saw all the buying  and selling going on in the temple.

We’re in Mark 8 today – when Jesus heals a blind man. Remember in Chapter 3 of Mark, Jesus gets angry with the Pharisees and the Herodians who attack him for healing a man with a bad hand on the Sabbath.

The Pharisees should have come to Jesus to have him heal their blindness – like this blind man in today’s gospel  - so they could see Jesus and people in a new way – not spending life being picky, picky, picky people.

Once upon a time, there was this lady in a parish where I was saying Mass. She turned me in the bishop for breaking the bread near the consecration -when the priest says the words of Jesus, “he took bread and, giving thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying …” I would do that at times – most of the time unconsciously – but now I don’t do it – lest it get someone angry.

CONCLUSION: 

An old priest I knew from somewhere else would say about pesty ladies, “I’d give that lady a wide berth” – as in docking a boat.