Holy Anger

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/110917.cfm) reminds me that I should be angry at and do something about the evil in this world. 

We all know Jesus is a very peaceful man.  He is very gentle and loving. He heals people. He feeds people. He teaches people. He brings forgiveness. There are times he gets mad at Pharisees but he is not violent. However, in today’s gospel, we see a different side of Him. We see him angry at those who are disrespecting his Father’s place. And he did something about it. 

We should be angry at the evil in this world.

They say that the only way for evil to triumph in this world is for good people to do nothing. Jesus knows and lives this, as his anger translated into action. His anger made him do something about the evil happening. Zeal is defined as great energy and enthusiasm in pursuing a cause. And as Jesus was pursuing the cause of spreading God’s kingdom, this is how he reacted to people who disrespected his Father’s place. He did something concrete to stop the evil. 

We should do something concrete to stop the evil and make the world a better place. 

There are a lot of evil in this world. There are a lot of videos and stories on social media on evil – the rampant corruption, the syndicates even on government institutions, the crimes and murders committed at broad daylight or on seemingly innocent people. We have easy access to these, and we oftentimes complain and air out our concerns. We rant about it. But are we doing something about it, aside from complaining?

God put us where we are for a reason, and we can do good on wherever we are. The bible says that we are to bloom where we are planted. In our own little way, we can fight against these evil by living good, treating others right so others would be reminded there are a still a lot of good people in this world, by helping those in need so they won’t have to resort to crimes, by not tolerating corruption in the government when we are put in a situation, and by raising our children right so they would have a solid moral foundation as they grow up and lead this world. These may be simple, but these are active ways of being angry and fighting evils in this world.

May we be inspired by Jesus – to be angry at evil, and actively do something to fight it.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to experience your love and your blessings. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for the call. Lord, sorry for the times I forget you, that you take a back seat in my life. Sorry for the times I just complain and do nothing about the evil in this world. Help me be like you. help me actively fight evil in my own little way. May I have your zeal for God’s kingdom. May I actively work to protect it, to spread it, and to fight evil. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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November 9, 2017
Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
Lectionary: 671

Reading 1EZ 47:1-2, 8-9, 12

The angel brought me
back to the entrance of the temple,
and I saw water flowing out
from beneath the threshold of the temple toward the east,
for the façade of the temple was toward the east;
the water flowed down from the southern side of the temple,
south of the altar.
He led me outside by the north gate,
and around to the outer gate facing the east,
where I saw water trickling from the southern side.
He said to me,
"This water flows into the eastern district down upon the Arabah,
and empties into the sea, the salt waters, which it makes fresh.
Wherever the river flows,
every sort of living creature that can multiply shall live,
and there shall be abundant fish,
for wherever this water comes the sea shall be made fresh.
Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow;
their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail.
Every month they shall bear fresh fruit,
for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary.
Their fruit shall serve for food, and their leaves for medicine."

Responsorial PsalmPS 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

R. (5) The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
God is our refuge and our strength,
an ever-present help in distress.
Therefore, we fear not, though the earth be shaken
and mountains plunge into the depths of the sea.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
God will help it at the break of dawn.
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!
The LORD of hosts is with us;
our stronghold is the God of Jacob.
Come! behold the deeds of the LORD,
the astounding things he has wrought on earth. 
R. The waters of the river gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High!

Reading 21 COR 3:9C-11, 16-17

Brothers and sisters:
You are God's building.
According to the grace of God given to me,
like a wise master builder I laid a foundation,
and another is building upon it.
But each one must be careful how he builds upon it,
for no one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there,
namely, Jesus Christ.

Do you not know that you are the temple of God,
and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
If anyone destroys God's temple,
God will destroy that person;
for the temple of God, which you are, is holy.

Alleluia2 CHR 7:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord,
that my name may be there forever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelJN 2:13-22

Since the Passover of the Jews was near,
Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves,
as well as the money-changers seated there.
He made a whip out of cords
and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen,
and spilled the coins of the money-changers
and overturned their tables,
and to those who sold doves he said,
"Take these out of here,
and stop making my Father's house a marketplace."
His disciples recalled the words of Scripture,
Zeal for your house will consume me.
At this the Jews answered and said to him,
"What sign can you show us for doing this?"
Jesus answered and said to them,
"Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."
The Jews said,
"This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,
and you will raise it up in three days?"
But he was speaking about the temple of his Body.
Therefore, when he was raised from the dead,
his disciples remembered that he had said this,
and they came to believe the Scripture

and the word Jesus had spoken.