Peace on Earth

Psychologists tell us that anger can often be a useful emotion. It allows pent-up feelings to come to the surface and motivates us to positive action to address miscarriages of justice. For those who tend to suppress or deny their emotions, the expression of anger can bring freedom and release.

Rage, on the other hand, is debilitating. The word implies a loss of control and the blind lashing out at the object of our deep scorn. Rage is responsible for the vast majority of domestic crimes. We were all reminded of the deathly power of rage in the recent murder-suicide involving Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher, who reports say was thrown “into a rage” by his girlfriend’s decision to go out with friends and leave him alone with their baby.

Psalm 37 helps us get at the issue of rage and in so doing leads us more deeply into our Advent discipline.

Verse 1:

"Do not be provoked by evildoers;

     do not be jealous of those who do wrong."

Verse 8:

"Refrain from anger, leave rage alone;

     do not be provoked, it leads only to evil."

(Here the psalmist equates anger with rage.)

What, then, are we to do when we are tempted to let rage get the better of us?  

Verse 7:

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently.
     Do not be provoked by the one who prospers,

     the one who succeeds in evil schemes.”

Anyone who has found themselves in a position to be given over to rage, though, will retort: “Easier said than done.”

This purposefulness of heart does not come out of nowhere. Rather, it is the product of hard spiritual work in which we recall ourselves daily, hourly and even moment by moment to Christ who resides at the center of all things. This process of recollection takes place during the busyness of our lives. Within our bustle of activity the prayer is constantly on our hearts: “You, Lord, only you.” This centering in Christ gives birth, gradually and imperceptibly, to a blessed stillness deep within us from which we can re-orient our lives and re-direct our actions. From this vantage point we may better understand the exhortation of Psalm 37, verse 3:

“Put your trust in the Lord and do good;
     dwell in the land and find safe pasture.” 

And from that place we may receive the angels' exuberant song in all its splendor:

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,
     and on earth peace among
     those with whom God is pleased!"

                                             (Luke 2:14)