Looking around at them in anger and grieved at their hardness of heart, Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored.
I draw comfort from this story about Jesus. I can relate to Jesus getting angry at people and grieving when people choose not to do what is right.
My challenge is to follow Jesus’ example. When I get angry my blood pressure rises; I often have negative thoughts about the person I am angry at; I can be very impatient, and sometimes I hurt people with unkind words. Jesus shows me another way of responding: he does so with love and compassion, says the right thing no matter the cost, and directs his energy into healing people and restoring them to community.
I pray I can follow Jesus’ lead and respond to feelings of anger with love and compassion.
—John Moriconi, S.J. is a Jesuit brother who serves as provincial secretary for the Chicago-Detroit Jesuit province.