Show Notes
Episode 26. What Do I Do With My Anger?
Episode 26. What Do I Do With My Anger?
"Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the devil."
~ Ephesians 4:26-27
ANGER. It's a word that brings up so many feelings and reactions for each of us. Some struggle to control their anger, and others are tempted to ignore or squash their angry feelings. How are we, as followers of Christ, supposed to understand anger? Is anger an emotion or a sin? Is it involuntary or can we learn to control it? Is there a way that we might even be able to bring good out of anger?
In this episode, Fr. Nathan LaLiberte joins Pat & Kenna to talk about a view of anger from a perspective of sound psychology and Catholic teaching. You'll come away with a better understanding of how to identify, communicate, and process anger in ways that can actually benefit our relationships with God and others.
Show Notes
Scripture’s description of the two kinds of anger (the sin & the emotional experience):
On one hand:
“But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna.”
Matthew 5:22
“Refrain from anger; abandon wrath; do not be provoked; it brings only harm.”
Psalm 37:8
“Do not be friendly with hotheads, nor associate with the wrathful, Lest you learn their ways, and become ensnared.”
Proverbs 22:24
On the other hand:
“Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the devil.”
Ephesians 4:26-27
“Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all those engaged in selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And he said to them, “It is written:
‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’
but you are making it a den of thieves.”Matthew 21:12-13
The purpose of anger is to overcome an evil; anger becomes a sin when the evil cannot be overcome or has already been overcome but we’re not willing to let go of anger.
St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae (paraphrased)
How do you feel about anger? How do you want to move with regard to anger?
Challenge By Choice
Reflect on your anger & what you do with it.
Take some time to think about the last time you were angry
Take a moment to pay attention to how that felt. Notice how your mind & body feel when you’re angry
What did you do with your anger? What choices did you make?
Talk to the Lord about that process.
“Lord, what do You want me to do with my anger?”