Abraham Lincoln was angry at slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. was angry at racial discrimination, Mahatma Gandhi was angry at the racial discrimination against the “untouchables” by the “high castes” in India … righteous anger. Nelson Mandela was angry at apartheid in South Africa. That was righteous anger.
When we see a bully beating up on a young kid, when we see a thief stealing an old woman’s purse, when we see a group of girls being catty and mean to another girl at recess, when a husband beats up his wife — the list goes on and on. The Lord God has wired us in such a way that most healthy human beings are angry inside when we see evil and injustice being done to someone.
Today’s Gospel pictures the righteous and healthy anger of Jesus, seeing the desecration of a holy place.
“Anyone can be angry. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, with the right purpose … that is not easy.”
Aristotle
Submitted by Fr. Joseph Dovari