No Anger At The Altar

Beads of Joy 03-18-11

No Anger At The Altar
©2011 James Dacey, Jr. SFO

Hello Everyone,

We all know, or at least we should know; that sin doesn't just happen. First it gets into our hearts and then it grows, and as it grows its demands are sometimes beyond our own ability to stop or manage them. We must learn how to control, that which we know we have a challenge controlling. Through God's grace and lots and lots of prayer we can manager anger, and hatred and our responses to such. I am speaking from first hand experience, anger can be very destructive, if you allow it. We must be ahead of the curve, and know how we will handle anger. God knows us better then we know ourselves, but we know our limits; that is, when the roof will be blown off. You know what I mean, we know when certain buttons are pushed.

First hand, let me tell you how I deal with anger, rightful, serious anger that is justified. Didn't Jesus get angry when His Father's house was being used as a market place where they cheated customers? His anger was justified by their lack of respect for God's house. So, to the point without all my crazy details. I see my anger as fully justified, yet I will not "react" upon it. And some who know our situation may say, "Why not, this situation deserves the full wrath of a mother and father?" I disagree. When a ship is sinking and those you love refuse to get off, and others convince them to stay on; what do you do? Unfortunately, you get all those who know getting off the sinking ship; is the first order of business to save every one, and you pray for the stubborn ones who think they have made good choices, as you watch them sink under the ocean. I don't know how else to explain it.

So I still never told you how I handle justified anger. Simple, I pray, and I pray and I pray and at times I cry. Our Lord knows my heart. I have been told by some, that this form of hurt is like being a living martyr. If that be true, then so be it. I refuse to react to the stupidity of the worldly view of things around us. God's grace is thee single best tool we have at our disposal, to help us through; so that the anger does not dominate our lives. Prayer, keep praying and trusting.

Today's Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26 (Concerning Anger)
"For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to the men of old, `You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, `You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny."

Questions To Ponder Today:
-How much do you allow anger to dominate your life?
-Is it revenge or forgiveness your response, when you are angry?
-Do you respond to the emotion of the anger?
-What is it that angers you the most, day in and day out?
TODAY: Try to write a letter to someone you are angry at.
Don't send it, just write it.This will help release a lot of your
anger. It's a great exercise in all issues like this.
Especially high intense emotional ones.


Your brother in Christ Jesus & His Most Blessed Mother,
Jim (The Rosary Man) Dacey Jr SFO

Today we pray the Sorrowful Mysteries

1. Agony in the Garden
2. The Scourging at the Pillar
3. Crowing with Thorns
4. Carrying of the Cross
5. The Crucifixion of Jesus