A Wild Horse

“Whoever is angry with someone will be liable to judgment.” Matthew 5:21

When we are in the grip of anger, it’s very hard to control. I was once brought to the barangay because an employee accused me of hitting her. Instead of using my hands to love and be of service, I used it for harm. Never mind if she made me so mad because of her actions. My anger got the better of me. 

Benjamin Franklin said, “ A man in a passion rides a wild horse.” If we cannot reign in a wild horse, it will bring us places we do not intend to go, and we can even fall and get hurt or worse, incapacitated. Many of us have hidden resentment, or criticism against others. It simmers inside but it really should be brought out into the light to be dealt with, or it can be a poison that we swallow ourselves. Nowadays “anger management” is quite fashionable, but we can look to the Bible for advice. 

In Ephesians 4:26-27, Saint Paul says, “Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” We have to deal with it right away and not let the devil use it to tempt us to greater sin, like Cain’s anger with Abel provoked him to murder! We may not murder anyone, but anger can grow into bitterness, revenge and slander, all magnificent blooms in Satan’s garden! 

For Lent, let us think of people who have hurt us and forgive them, or people we have offended, and ask forgiveness from them. It is difficult to do, but oh the freedom we experience afterwards!