Someone asked me a question today, 'If i get angry at God, do you think he'll get angry at me?'
I don't know why this remains in my thoughts, crowding out the images of last night's Maundy Thursday ceremony and veneration around the Altar of Repose or the emotions stirred at the dimming of the church lights and the stripping the altar in preparation of mourning or the priests renewal of their faith and the washing of feet.
Ceremony and veneration and a fuller than normal church overshadowed by one man's earnest question, Will he get angry at me?
He has enough to be angry at God, me thinks. A serious anxiety disorder has literally crippled him, leaving him at home alone, without many friends, no work, unfinished school, financial dependant, no partner, no children. A young man struggling with 'why?' who confesses that he is angry at God for making him suffer.
I don't know why we suffer, but we do. Are we like Job, actively punished by God to prove some divine point? Me thinks not, and if we were, there would be no point dwelling on it. To recognise suffering, is to give it a name. And by giving it a name, it is treatable. Buddha found his method in the Four Noble Truths. Today Jesus will show us his answer through personal example and invite us to follow. We were angry that the King of the Jews was not who we expected he should be. We killed him. Would not God be furious at us for killing his Son?! God leaves the Temple, but i would have expected another Great Flood at least!
Jesus asks his Father to forgive us.
We know not what we do, for indeed, despite all the miracles we still can't get beyond the physical reality of this earthly life of food and drink, pleasures and pains, fears and comforts. How can we be punished for anything done in our profound ignorance? Isn't this ignorance and endless cycle of anxiety punishment enough?
God is Love.
Every year, again and again and again, we shall be reminded of this, as if God truly wants us to understand what life can be like in His reality. No, He is not angry. He offers grace and mercy and patience. If only we could allow ourselves to be comforted.
Deo gratias.
I don't know why this remains in my thoughts, crowding out the images of last night's Maundy Thursday ceremony and veneration around the Altar of Repose or the emotions stirred at the dimming of the church lights and the stripping the altar in preparation of mourning or the priests renewal of their faith and the washing of feet.
Ceremony and veneration and a fuller than normal church overshadowed by one man's earnest question, Will he get angry at me?
He has enough to be angry at God, me thinks. A serious anxiety disorder has literally crippled him, leaving him at home alone, without many friends, no work, unfinished school, financial dependant, no partner, no children. A young man struggling with 'why?' who confesses that he is angry at God for making him suffer.
I don't know why we suffer, but we do. Are we like Job, actively punished by God to prove some divine point? Me thinks not, and if we were, there would be no point dwelling on it. To recognise suffering, is to give it a name. And by giving it a name, it is treatable. Buddha found his method in the Four Noble Truths. Today Jesus will show us his answer through personal example and invite us to follow. We were angry that the King of the Jews was not who we expected he should be. We killed him. Would not God be furious at us for killing his Son?! God leaves the Temple, but i would have expected another Great Flood at least!
Jesus asks his Father to forgive us.
We know not what we do, for indeed, despite all the miracles we still can't get beyond the physical reality of this earthly life of food and drink, pleasures and pains, fears and comforts. How can we be punished for anything done in our profound ignorance? Isn't this ignorance and endless cycle of anxiety punishment enough?
God is Love.
Every year, again and again and again, we shall be reminded of this, as if God truly wants us to understand what life can be like in His reality. No, He is not angry. He offers grace and mercy and patience. If only we could allow ourselves to be comforted.
Deo gratias.
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