“There is good anger and there is bad anger!”

Scripture John 4:5-42

Once Upon a Time-On a Mountain

• A couple climbed a mountain and met a woman
• They were invited to sit down and ask her a question
• They asked about the meaning of life – she told them
• They asked for her recipe for holiness – no problem
• They asked her about the secrets of the universe – no problem
• They asked her about their anger toward each other – problem
• She broke her pencil stomped off to her cave and said….
• Her punchline….

Gospel – Are We Shocked?

• Jesus is angry – but it is a good angry
• We’ve heard him during his ministry
• ”You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you?
• Scolding Peter: “Get behind me Satan!”
• Cursing the fig tree because Jesus is hungry for figs –  the tree dies

Good Anger – Confronting the Money Changers

• Flailing a rope – Jesus overturns the table – gold and silver everywhere
• Jesus is really passionate and  really angry
• Our Jesus is not bland or boring

Righteous Anger – Based in Loving Care

• For those who are being unjustly treated
• Terrible exchange rate for Emperor coins to Temple coins
• Poor people were being ripped off – The Lord was livid

Notice – No Anger when Jesus was Target

• Jesus was silent during the torture of Roman soldiers
• They spat, struck, and placed a crown of thorns on his head
• No anger

On the Cross

• No persecution – only forgiveness
• Jesus had every right to be angry
• Jesus is a better person than me

Our Bad Anger

• Spouts expletives at another person is traffic
• Curses an swears at someone for the slightest oversight
• Seethes up in us like a cancer or tea kettle about to explode
• Might overwhelm or scare us

Anger is a Feeling – Good or Bad – Our Choice

A Book

• Letting Go of Anger: The 10 Most Common Anger Styles and What to Do About Them
• Ten Styles: avoidance, sneaky, moral habitual, addictive, shameful, paranoid, sudden and hateful
• There is a survey at the front of the book that helps you determine yours

Know This!

• Anger is normal
• I can be angry
• I am a good person even when angry
• I can use my anger well

Is it OK to Be Angry with the Lord?

• Our prayer needs to be real
• Our expression of anger, talking it through with the Lord/others that begins the healing process – we begin to let go
• Underneath anger is hurt – my anger says I don’t want to admit my hurt

Anger is Messenger We Must Not Ignore

Questions for Reflection

• What impacted you from today’s Readings and/or homily?
• What did you think of Jesus’ reaction in the Temple?
• What is your anger style? What might your bad anger look like?
• What does righteous anger look like for you? Examples?

Live Connected

• This Lent, think of ways you can offer forgiveness instead of anger. Also, consider ways to use your good anger well in the future. Execute both when the opportunity arrives.