Good morning, Digital Neighbors!
Depending on what your parish chooses to do, you will either hear St. John’s version of Jesus cleansing the temple or you will hear the story of the woman at the well proclaimed. There is always an option to do the Samaritan woman at the well since it is a story of conversion, and these Gospels are presented to aid the reflection and conversion of those seeking to join the church. It is a wonderful story of conversation, proclamation, and conversion.
However, we are proclaiming the cleansing of the temple which is part of the Cycle B readings for Mass. This episode is detailed in every Gospel. It is a dramatic and visceral moment in the life of Christ. The temple is not meant to be a place of compromise and accommodation with the world, and the intrusion of the vendors into the outer courts is seen as just that. While the vendors are providing a service, the service is not meant to intrude into space designated for worship. This is not the only time Jesus displays anger, and too many use it to excuse and justify their own anger. St. Mark mentions numerous times when Jesus grows angry with individuals or groups.
Anger is a powerful emotion, one that can quickly overwhelm our reason and lead us down a path of destruction. It is probably one of the reasons many of us “Olds” may have been repeatedly told in childhood that children don’t get angry, only adults do. It was one way to try and head off the mess at the beginning. Of course, children get angry, and the inability to express it in any manner only complicates our relationship with it. Unexpressed anger often becomes explosive anger when it is finally acknowledged.
Some mistakenly think any and every expression of anger is a sin. They will even point out this incident in the temple. The sinful side of anger is wrath, the desire to make another suffer if they do not yield to your will and rage. This anger works all manner of intimidation towards others. When we think of other adults as bullies, a phrase I try to avoid using because children can be bullies, adults intimidate and menace one another usually in matters the will. I will impose my will on you, or I will resist you trying to do it to me. Anger is often used to get our way. It is the dearest associate of willful pride and often accompanies it as the enforcer in our fallen state. Pride says NO, and Anger says TRY TO STOP ME. Many people do not exercise anger well as adults. The very fact that we say people can be triggered, seems to be concession that many have lost any mastery over their feelings, especially anger because they can’t get their way, or they must hear something they dislike or disagree with. Emotional infantilism is a terrible way to spend your life and it is like a plague. Sorry for the aside.
Anger itself is not a sin, it is the wrong use of anger that it. When our anger becomes wrath and wants to destroy and punish, to injury and eliminate it become sinful. Anger is given to us by God to protect what we love. It is given to us to provide courage and the willingness to disregard risk at the service of another. Anger is the springboard for courage and the perspective to strive for what we value and want to secure. The cleansing in the temple is an example of that. Jesus wants the temple grounds to remain a sacred space, not just another place of human transactions. Fight to protect what you love, not to get your way.
A quote from one of my favorite books, Yielding, Prayers for those in need of hope. Thank you Supporters and thank you Peggy D for typing this up so many years ago.
