Anger
July 10, 1997
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:
Silent Prayer was followed by repetition of the "Rule for Motives and Acts," from the Manual of the Mother Church. Always a good place to start.
Mary Baker Eddy, on page 252:8-14, summed up nicely the first part of our meeting. It became apparent that unconscious anger that drives one's thought and action needs to be identified before it can be handled in Science. Anger is often a cover for feelings such as grief or fear which need to be seen to be handled.
Several members shared instances of anger in their lives and how they did (or did not) handle them. Some helpful, though "human", advice was offered, such as using humor to defuse a hostile person or situation.
A key question became when to vent and when to turn the other cheek. One member argued for the importance of being clear in our communications. Letting others know when we're upset and why. A good point, no doubt, and led to another important issue - moderation - when are we communicating and when are we just having a full-fledged snit. "Rebuke the sin and not the sinner" eventually emerged as a good guide to judge when one is simply trying to right a wrong vs. going postal. Jesus did cast out the money lenders, but managed to refrain from using explosives, heavy artillery or pursuing them into nearby towns with an armed posse. Truly the man of moderation.
Overall, the tone of the meeting was quite heavy. It's easy at times to get caught up in the "reality" of the problem & then realize you never stopped to focus on the solution. I think we've all been there. When you've got your nose pressed to the tree, it's hard to remember you're in the forest and step back and get your perspective, so to speak.
A meeting, like ours, is a living thing. It learns as it grows and goes along. I think we all learned better how to keep ourselves in check and remember to stop and smell the roses - the reality of things; both for our own mental states individually and for the group as a whole.
And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
"Whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also." That is, Fear not that he will smite thee again for thy forbearance.
It requires the spirit of our blessed Master to tell a man his faults, and so risk human displeasure for the sake of doing right and benefiting our race.
At all times and under all circumstances, overcome evil with good. Know thyself, and God will supply the wisdom and the occasion for a victory over evil. Clad in the panoply of Love, human hatred cannot reach you. The cement of a higher humanity will unite all interests in the one divinity.
It is neither Science nor Truth which acts through blind belief, nor is it the human understanding of the divine healing Principle as manifested in Jesus, whose humble prayers were deep and conscientious protests of Truth,—of man's likeness to God and of man's unity with Truth and Love.
The lonely precincts of the tomb gave Jesus a refuge from his foes, a place in which to solve the great problem of being. His three days' work in the sepulchre set the seal of eternity on time. He proved Life to be deathless and Love to be the master of hate.
A knowledge of error and of its operations must precede that understanding of Truth which destroys error, until the entire mortal, material error finally disappears, and the eternal verity, man created by and of Spirit, is understood and recognized as the true likeness of his Maker.