September 17, 2021

Isn’t it alarming how an anger or resentment that you had thought was completely doused can flame up in an instant? A surprise trigger – maybe the make and model of the car that he used to drive zooms by. Then all the sudden, you are ablaze with rage and indignation. You are obviously not “over” what you thought you were over.

Everyone knows that anger eats away at you from the inside out. Not everyone knows (or believes) that the only one capable of truly righteous anger is Jesus. No matter how just the cause or how innocent you are, your anger is nowhere near righteous. That’s because the bible says that there are none that are righteous, not even one.

But every seemingly never-ending conflagration is the met with the waters of grace and forgiveness.  St. John says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)

“Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend us; and, because we cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern us always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Proper 13 – BCP)