Lent Day 17: March 12

Lenten Reflection for Day 17

Date: Monday March 12

Author: Howard Shaffer

Bible Passage: Ephesians 4:25–26 (NRSV)

²⁵ So then, putting away falsehood, let all of us speak the truth to our neighbors, for we are members of one another. ²⁶ Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

Reflection:

Saint Paul was gifted by the Holy Spirit to give us many practical ideas to help us through life everyday.

Falsehood is really anything we say, or don’t say, or do or don’t do that misleads others. It violates Christ’s command to treat others as we want them to treat us. Falsehood is also a way of expressing the original sin of Adam and Eve. They broke God’s command, then tried to blame someone else – God and the snake. Falsehood destroys community. It is difficult to admit to God, yourself, your family and neighbors that you have made a mistake, but it is absolutely necessary. Isn’t failure to admit mistakes really a falsehood?

Anger is a normal emotion that arises from fear, but also from a sense of being wronged. We may be wronged directly, or feel that our family or “community” (church, school, country, etc.) have been wronged. The Bible often speaks of God’s anger – with us! Yet He forgives us! We pray for forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer, and say it is as we forgive others. Jesus emphasized this by saying we MUST forgive others if we expect to be forgiven. Anger is very corrosive, and to remain angry eats away at you. We are human and we will become angry. Saint Paul gives us the time limit for bearing this self-imposed burden. It is the end of the day. Get rid of your anger by forgiving whoever or what ever angered you, and end the day in peace. Be reminded that God has forgiven you through Christ’s death and resurrection.

Prayer:

Dear God, guide me to be truthful in everything, in every way. Help me to contain my anger at others and myself, and to forgive them and myself by the end of this day. Forgive me for my anger. Thank you for forgiving me.