Ash Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Morning Psalms: 32, 143 | Evening Psalms: 102, 130
Jonah 3:1-4:11 | Hebrews 12:1-14 | Luke 18:9-14

“And the Lord said, ‘Do you do well to be angry?’” (Jonah 4:4)

Anger is a deadly thing. Thus, when God poses this question to Jonah, I am comforted because I know God has asked that question of me from time to time, and I am relieved to know that a prophet like Jonah also had to wrestle with his anger. Eric Metaxas, in his recent biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, describes a letter Dietrich wrote to his parents, reflecting on his observation of a gruesome bullfight. He writes: “It is after all, a great spectacle to see wild, unrestrained power and blind rage fight… the majority of spectators … just want to see blood and cruelty. Overall, the people vent all these powerful emotions, and you get drawn into it yourself.”

In my thirty-three years as a priest I have seen the sin of anger consume individuals and destroy communities. The source of the anger is usually a failure to be secure in oneself as the beloved of God. One is most angry at others when angry with and despising self. St. Augustine’s Prayer Book defines anger: “Anger is open rebellion against God or our fellow creatures. Its purpose and desire is to eliminate any obstacle to our self-seeking.”

God had to remind Jonah that his anger was not justified before the grace, love, and mercy of God. And God reminds us in our Lenten discipline to examine our anger and relinquish it to Him in light of His love, grace, and mercy to us and to those we serve.

And the Lord said, ‘Do you do well to be angry?’” (Jonah 4:4) May we yield to His love and put all our anger to flight. Amen.

The Rev. Dr. Laurie Thompson (DMin 2001)
Dean of Doctoral Studies and Administration
Associate Professor of Liturgy
Trinity School for Ministry
Ambridge, PA