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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “appetite for anger”. Appetite is a strong desire. Anger on the other hand is a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility. The theme can therefore be rephrased as a strong desire to express one’s feelings of annoyance, displeasure or hostility. , Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:21-24 concerning anger and its effect on the believer’s spiritual life.

First, Jesus makes reference to the law concerning murder and its punishment but more importantly establishes a new rule about anger which is similar to murder. “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister, will be subject to judgment.” (Matthew 5:21-22) The existing law deals with the outcome of anger which may be murder but does not address the root cause of murder which may be anger. Sometimes uncontrolled anger leads to violence that may either lead to murder and verbal abuse, therefore, Jesus says it is impossible to get angry at your brother or sister without harbouring evil in your heart against him or her. A person’s appetite for anger leads to evil and such a person stands to be judged. In other words, once anger corrupts your mind with evil, you are no longer capable of pleasing God. You are most likely to do evil or commit a is a sin against your neighbour and God.

Second, the crimes of murder and verbal abuse borne out of anger are given the same weight or punishment. Both murder and anger lead to the same punishment, Jesus says you “will be in danger of the fire of hell.” (Matthew 5:22) According to human legal regime or system all crimes are not the same but when it comes to Jesus’ teaching, the same anger that makes one to commit murder is the same anger that makes another commit verbal abuse, in other words, insulting a person that he or she is “raca” (nonentity) or a fool!. In other words, God judges both destructive anger or evil intention and the evil act that comes out of it. Dear friend, with this revelation, we must control our appetite for anger because God does not only judge our actions but He judges our thoughts (intentions) and emotions towards our brothers and sisters.

Thirdly, we must overcome our appetite for anger and always seek to resolve issues and reconcile with our brothers and sisters or anyone we have issues with before coming to the house of God to pray and offer our sacrifices. Our sacrifices including our whole body are made unwholesome or unacceptable by anger or unresolved issues between us and others. In other words, our worship is incomplete when we have unresolved issues with others. Paul admonishes us that “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:26-27). It means that no matter your appetite for anger, it must have a limit and must not be allowed to linger in our hearts. The longer anger dwells in us, the more our intentions become evil leading to sinful acts against our neighbour and God. It is, for this reason, Jesus teaches that God will not accept your offering in any form or shape unless you deal with the anger, “leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:24). You can imagine the number of times God has spiritually rejected our offerings just because we appeared before Him with unresolved anger and issues we have against others or others have against us. Dear friend, anger and unforgiveness may prevent a lot of Christians from entering the Kingdom of God, Jesus cautions us that “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23) Maybe the only evil you ever did as a Christian was to hate someone, refuse to forgive him or her and wish that something tragic happens to him or her because of your appetite for anger. Yes, the person may have offended you remember that your appetite for anger destroys your relationship with God. We have been assured that “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:19-21). It may sometimes be difficult to let go of issues because of anger but in all things, Jesus teaches us to pray “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:9-10). May we always do God’s will not our will. Shalom.

PRAYER

Almighty God, help us to control our appetite for anger and may Your will be done in our lives even as we forgive and reconcile with those who offend us and those we have also offended. Amen