Emotions

Today’s Gospel Text:  As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of man is to be delivered into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day." And they were greatly distressed.

24 When they came to Caper'na-um, the collectors of the half-shekel tax went up to Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay the tax?" 25 He said, "Yes." And when he came home, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from others?" 26 And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. 27 However, not to give offense to them, go to the sea and cast a hook, and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel; take that and give it to them for me and for yourself." Matt 17:22-27

Reflection: What do you think may have happened after Jesus announces his imminent death? Did the dedicated disciples understand what Jesus had to say or do?

For this we need to know the many ways in which we pick up the thought processes of others.

Primarily we could be picking up the thought processes of others either through a mere observation of the face, the body language, the emotional expressions and above all through words.

What may come across to us in written format are the mere words of the divine person, who was in complete control of his emotions.

Which means Jesus would express the right emotions at the right time and in right measure but it does not mean the absence of emotions which God has created so that we are able to express completely in every measure.

Thus the dedicated disciples may have picked up the emotions and the seriousness from the actual reality, from what they were seeing, which Jesus may have wanted to communicate to them.

Thus the scripture tell us: “And they were greatly distressed.” 

May be some of this distress was clearly evident in the voice and tone of Jesus at the way he was going to be handed over to mere men and that too sinful.

Emotions are something which God has created for men and for their good, so that they are able to express and communicate and through the proper use of these emotions and in right situations and occasions God will also work out his salvation in us.

Christian spirituality does not look at emotions in a negative way and as one to be suppressed and pushed into oblivion but rather as one to be expressed when necessary and in the right measure for the good of self and for others and above all for the greater glory of God.

Prayer:  Lord, I thank you for thy hands have made and fashioned me, give me understanding that I may ever rejoice in your ways. (cfr. Ps. 119: 73)

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Anger of God

Today’s Gospel Text:  And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them. Mark 10:13-16

Reflection: There are some emotional expressions which cannot be easily ignored, such as the cry of a child or the anger of most living creatures.

What is it that makes us feel angry? Broadly speaking, there could be good reasons or for the wrong reasons.

One could be angry for pure self centered reasons, for example, a father could get angry with the child because he can’t read his newspaper or because he is angry with his boss and so he lets out his frustration on the child or his wife or sometimes even on a domesticated animal at home.

Humans so often manifest anger indiscriminately and for the wrong reasons and sometimes if there are good reasons for anger it could be misconstrued as a wrong.  Some look at any manifestation of anger as wrong.

Anger in itself is a pure emotion, created by God when he created life for the good of life. It is power in our hands which can be used and abused too.

Blessed is the man who makes less use or rather the right use of the power he wields in order to get work done and more so uses it for the glory of God.

Therefore in scripture you have St. Paul exhorting the Christians: “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” Eph 4:26-27

Why did Jesus have to angry?

In the gospels we see Jesus very rarely getting angry but always for the right reasons:  He is seen to get angry with the Pharisees on account of the hardness of their hearts; a condition in which they failed to see the saving truth of  God’s love for them.(cfr. Mk. 3:5)

In the temple he is seen to drive out the money changers who desecrate the temple of God and thus invites God’s wrath. (cfr. Jn. 2: 14-21)

In today’s gospel we see him angry with the disciples when they fail to see the great love that God has for preserving whatever innocence a child may have and the quality that makes them open to receive the kingdom of God in their hearts.

God’s anger in this life manifested by the many calamities and sometimes difficulty around us is an action of his love for us so that we are not lost like the rest of humanity who reject him.

Prayer: Turn not thy servant away in anger, thou who hast been my help. Cast me not off, forsake me not, O God of my salvation! Ps 27:9

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us