Today is the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua. St. Anthony is known as the patron of lost items. We ask for his intercession when we have lost something and can’t find it. Maybe you’ve heard, or even prayed, this little prayer before: Tony, Tony turn around, something’s lost and can’t be found.
The Sermon on the Mount is probably the most challenging teaching ever. Jesus raises the bar on our thinking and our behavior to ridiculous levels. It really starts today with His teaching on anger. Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment. 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.” Did you hear that? Jesus equates anger with killing!
Of course, anger is an emotion. We all get angry from time to time. How we act upon that anger is the issue at hand. Maybe you're familiar with this truism: Hurt people hurt people. It means that people who are wounded will often inflict wounds on others. When we're hurt, we tend to lash out at others. When we allow the Lord to heal our own wounds - especially our anger - we can begin to stop the vicious cycle of hurt. Give your wounds and your anger to Christ and let His peace heal your wounds and replace your anger.
Father, help us with our anger. Fill our hearts with Christ’s peace, that we may put anger aside and be people of peace. Amen.
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