One of the characteristics that resides in our human nature broken by original sin is the inclination to anger. 

 

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines anger as “a desire for revenge” (2302). But we all realize from experience that anger presents itself in so many ways.

 

There is such a thing as a just anger. Often cited in this regard is the cleansing of the temple by Jesus. In the Gospel of John, Jesus is described as having made a whip out of cords to drive out the money changers as he overturned their tables (Jn 2:13-17). Since we look to Christ as the model for our thoughts and actions we must conclude that just anger is part of our nature for a reason.

 

We might consider, in our own lives, the anger that a child provokes in his or her father or mother when parental authority is disobeyed. And what a good thing that is. It is often that just anger in parents that impresses upon a growing child the serious need for the harmony and obedience that is a building block for working together and even for life in the family of God, the Church.

 

If handled appropriately, a child learns that such anger must exist in a wider context of love. The parents cannot let their anger bring them to rage. And the child finds that after the lesson has been learned, anger has to be followed by forgiveness, for an effort by both parties to restore the goodness and unity of the relationship and to begin again to move forward.

 

It is this healing following just anger that was one of the continuing great lessons for the Old Testament people of Israel. “In an outburst of wrath, for a moment I hid my face from you; but with enduring love I take pity on you, says the Lord, your redeemer” (Is 54:8).

 

Likewise, there is a sense of anger that is rightful to society as a whole. That anger pertains to the effort of society to enforce laws rightfully passed that are the basis for harmonious living and human flourishing. When such laws are broken, society has a right to rectify the injustice and address the collective anger that results. 

 

Again, as the catechism says, “... it is praiseworthy to impose restitution” (see CCC, 2302). 

 

But once more, in such a case the ultimate goal must be to reform the offender. We must always be seeking the conversion of the one who has provoked anger by real offense.

 

It is in this context that we need to consider how anger now seems so prevalent in our lives and more widely in society. As we look around we sense that we are becoming increasingly prone to anger. We so easily take offense. 

 

Any barrier against becoming angry in the first place seems either very low or even non-existent. It is almost as if anger has become not an exceptional and particular reaction, but rather a go to first response.

 

Further, anger, if not moderated and channeled by grace, becomes easily a destructive rage. Such rage leads to wrath, one of the deadly capital sins. Often too, it leads to a grudge, to the breaking of marital, family and friendly bonds. How often do we hear about people who are just not speaking to each other for years after a disagreement or offense?

 

As St. Paul tells us, “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the devil.” (Ep 4:26-27). How good it is for us to pray for the grace to keep our hearts free from deadly anger, to seek patience and to put up with the provocations of others. In the end, our task of faith is to put an end to anger by seeking forgiveness and forgiving others as God has forgiven us.