I’ve had a complete set of Barclay’s New Testament Commentaries since around 1985. Over the years, I often used them as a reference when studying a New Testament passage or preparing a preaching. Though I appreciate the rich historical perspective it brings to each passage, as well as its very practical application of the bible to our lives, I have never read all the books from beginning to end. Recently, I decided to do that, starting with Matthew, using it as part of my daily prayer.
On page 96, Barclay reflects on the Beatitude: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Referring to Aristotle’s definition of meekness—“the happy medium between too much or too little anger”—he concludes with a first possible translation of this beatitude: “Blessed is the [person] who is always angry at the right time, and never angry at the wrong time.”
It was the next sentence that stopped me short. “If we ask what the right time and the wrong time are, we may say as a general rule for life that it is never right to be angry for any insult or injury done to ourselves; that is something no Christian must ever resent; but that it is often right to be angry at injuries done to other people.” Whoa! I had to think about that one! I was conflicted.
Whether someone is slighted, insulted unwittingly, treated unjustly, or outright oppressed, most people get angry when that happens to them, don’t they? Isn’t it natural and healthy to feel hurt and angry when treated badly, and NOT to accept abuse?
On the one hand, doesn’t such anger empower a person to move away from an abusive situation or relationship? On the other hand, long-held anger withholds forgiveness and fuels resentment, which poisons a relationship and one’s spiritual life, becoming an obstacle to eternal life in Christ.
Jesus taught: “If you do not forgive others, neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your transgressions.” Jesus’ teaching about anger is a very important lesson in the first 25 verses of Matthew Chapter 5. We cannot be disciples of Jesus if we do not grapple with this teaching and apply it in our lives and relationships as Jesus did.
Two people who learned and lived this lesson well and have much to teach me stand out in my mind: Nelson Mandela and Dr. Martin Luther King. Mandela, after having been unjustly imprisoned for 27 years, said: “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.” “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.” “Forgiveness liberates the soul. It removes fear. That is why it is such a powerful weapon.”
Dr. M. L. King’s Six Principles of Nonviolence, modeled by Mahatma Gandhi in the nonviolent revolution in India, were based on and derived from Christ’s life and teaching:
- Nonviolence is a way of life for courageous people, not for cowards.
- Build the Beloved Community everywhere you go.
- Attack the forces of evil, not persons doing evil.
- Accept suffering without retaliation for the sake of the just cause.
- Avoid inner violence of the spirit as well as outward physical violence.
- The universe is on the side of justice.
Since reading and praying about the first half of this Beatitude, I am on a spiritual cleansing diet: examining and ridding myself of any “anger at the wrong time,” any resentment toward anyone, no matter how far back it goes. And I offer it as an ongoing practice for any of our readers to adopt as needed.
As to being “angry at the right time”—I will save that for another blog...
Thank you Sister Amy. I really related to your words. I have a lot of forgiving to do, especially of the institutional Church. I wonder, How can I move closer to Christ if I am still holding on to resentments of the past – even from my childhood. It seems that Lent is a good time to “wrestle” with this. God Bless.
Maggie Whelan, OPA Niskayuna, NY
Amy, you have given me food for thought and also your words of wisdom enlightened my mind to do something with my anger and resentment. I too need spiritual cleansing.
Right on, Emy! Thank you.
Thank you for this invitation to go deeper. I am confirmed and challenged. 💜
O God assist me to strive to fast from Anger. Many times, anger is caused by a simple misunderstanding about a conversation or an issue. Thank you, Amy, for your Lenten sharing.
Thanks for your reflection. This fits with my Lenten desires and I find it difficult to do with some persons. My journey begins again.
Thank you, Amy, for your reflection – both challenging and hopeful at the same time!
Blessings
Sometimes I am able to rid myself of anger that I recognize is “at the wrong time.”
Sometimes the anger holds on.
Sr. Amy, thank you for the reminder to keep trying.
Thank you, Amy, for your thoughtful reflection! I appreciate the reminders and sharing of thoughts from Dr. King and Nelson Mandela. They serve as important reminders to me as I reflect during this Lenten season. Peace!
A beautiful article to read on the first Monday in Lent. A true call for “spiritual housecleaning.
Thanks, Sister, for your wise commentaries. I particularly love and seek to ingest “suffering” for a just cause. …and I’d like more illumination on the universe being on the side of justice…maybe, some tidbits followed by reading references?
Good Tuesday Morning Sr. Amy,
Wowww! This is truly a thought provoking statement, that I do agree with and trying to apply to my life, ” it is never right to be angry for any insult or injury done to ourselves; that is something no Christian must ever resent; but that it is often right to be angry at injuries done to other people.”
Thank you, thank you!
Dear Amy,
What a gift to receive your preaching and challenges surrounding anger and how we can deal with it in a more Christian manner.
There was a time someone angry unjustly accused me and instead of just receiving it, I responded with my own anger. What a regret it was for me that I stilll had not learned to be silent as Jesus was when he was falsely accused. It is humbling yet always a reminder to know God forgives us and gives us the opportunity to do better the next time I am encountered by an angry person. I learned a good lesson. Hopefully, I will do better the next occasion when someone accuses me to remain silent with Jesus. And find another time to speak with the person and get more information on the matter. This would hopefully lead to reconciliation for both of us.
Since the time of this occasion, we have been reconciled and are at peace with ourselves and one another. Another gift from God’s lavishing love for each of us. Thanks to you also Amy for your reflections. Most appreciated,
Sr. Brigid
Sister Amy, dear friend from over fifty years ago, I treasured reading this reflection knowing it came from you. One thing I have found helpful, though I do not do it nearly enough, is to ask our Lord how he feels about what has just happened. Sometimes he is angry too!
Amy, I just now discovered your reflection. Never too late. The way you live this wisdom about nonviolent resistance challenges me to empty my reservoir of angry retaliations.
I stumbled upon this and am grateful of its timing. Recently I found myself ‘triggered’ and losing my composure with a friend and neighbor. My anger most definitely showed. My neighbor, for years, has been demeaning, intolerant, and spreads misinformation regarding our Immigrant/Refugee neighbors in our community. For years I’ve tried to be patient and share factual information about the refugees. That went out the window on this day. Now to find a ‘wisdom’ way to reconcile while still supporting the need to be empathetic toward this new population living in our community.