“Despite the forecast, live like it’s spring.” -Lilly Pulitzer, American fashion designer, entrepreneur

 “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment…settle matters quickly…If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”

– Matthew 5:22,25, 29-30.

What makes one angry? Angry thoughts and insulting words may never lead to murder, but they are impulses to rid ourselves of the person or their presence in our life–for at least some period of time. 

“Victory over the desires of the heart, must be attended with painful exertions. But it must be done. Everything is bestowed to save us from our sins, not in them.” 

– from Matthew Henry’s concise commentary on Matthew 5

Thomas Aquinas, in his Summa Theologica, elaborated on how unresolved anger can lead to long-term spiritual decay and bodily harm. Hippocrates, ancient Greek physician, associated strong emotions such as anger with imbalances in the body’s humors. His observations hinted that persistent anger could contribute to heart maladies and modern medicine would later substantiate in terms of stress-related heart ailments. When anger is left to fester, it disrupts our relationships and leads to a hardened, bitter heart-literally. It is better to cast off what hinders to know reconciliation.  

 Prayer

Lord God Almighty, Let us remember the wisdom you gave us through Your servant, James, that everyone should “Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” (from James 1:19-20)