3 WAYS ANGER TURNS TO WRATH:
1. We get angry too easily.
We get angrier than we should.
We stay angry too long.
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. —Mark 3:1-6
You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire.” —Matthew 5:21-22
Returning violence for violence multiplies violence, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. —Martin Luther King, Jr.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” No, “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.” —Romans 12:14-20
GENTLENESS IS THE OPPOSITE OF WRATH. GENTLE PEOPLE MASTER THEIR ANGER RATHER THAN BEING MASTERED BY IT.
GENTLENESS RESPONDS FROM A HEART THAT FULLY TRUSTS IN GOD.
WAYS TO CONFRONT WRATH IN YOUR LIFE:
1. KEEP AN ANGER JOURNAL.
For one week, write down every time you feel angry, and what your anger is about. Then rate the intensity of each angry episode on a scale of 1-5. At the end of the week, close the journal and put it away for another week. Then, at the end of our Holy Week journey, open that journal again and read through it. Once you’ve cooled off, and you have the evidence in your hands, ask some important questions:
• Were you angry too often? What kind of things tend to set you off?
• Do you find yourself still feeling resentful about any of the things you wrote down two weeks ago?
• If someone had watched what happened in those events, would they have felt that your anger was justified?
• Were your expectations realistic about what you deserve vs. what you need, and what others deserve vs what others need?
• Was pride a factor for you - did you feel like you were entitled to more than you really were?
• Was your wrath a cover up for something else?
2. WORK TOWARD A HEALTHIER BALANCE IN YOUR LIFE.
Not having balance can make us prone to wrath. There are ways to stay calm: listening to calm music, exercising to burn off tension, getting enough sleep, finding a place to be alone and get some space, etc. These things help our bodies to recover from the injuries and stressors that otherwise might cause us to respond by lashing out.
What will you choose to do with your anger? Will you take up your cross, or will you crucify someone else?
FOR PRAYER AND REFLECTION
What is God doing?
What are you doing?
What are you supposed to be doing?
Are you doing it?
What are you going to do about it.