Don't let the sun go down on your anger

There is a phrase from Scripture that has been with me this week and I think the Gospel (Matthew 5.21 -37) drew it out. The phrase? “Don’t let the sun go down on your anger.”  Such a thought got me thinking about what exactly is it that I am holding on to at the end of the day? Scripture so often counsels us not to worry, not to fret because God is in control. There are things that I cannot control or change. I can pray, encourage, counsel others but I have to at some point, let it go and let go into the care of others and most especially the care of God.

This should remind us that God cares not only about us as people, he cares about us as a community. He works on the relationships between us and they too matter to him. The Gospel calls on us to work at our training in righteousness so that we can be effective Christians. We are to deal with conflict in a righteous manner and be mindful of the state of our heart and mind.  Why? Because we are before God! God calls on us as his ministers to live as his children. That means we are to live in integrity. We are to be faithful to the promises we make and honour our commitments, especially those of us who are married to a spouse. We are to live in such a way that vows and oaths are all but unnecessary. We are to live such a life that we will not allow each other to be alone or abandoned. We are with each other through thick and thin; plenty and famine. And our life together in community should show the life in the kingdom to those around so that they too, will want to join in.  

God genuinely cares about us and the relationships we have. This is why we are called upon to leave the offering we have brought to God before the altar (before we ask that it be offered) and go and find the brother or sister that we have been struggling with and work to make things right. We can trust God to look after the gift until we return to the altar and then we can with pure hearts, quiet minds and clean hands offer the gift we have rightly.

We have a tradition in our Church of “passing the Peace” and that is what the “Peace” is all about. It is not about greeting and saying good morning to friends and neighbours. It is about intentionally seeking out that one person with whom we have “a thing” and sorting it out before we present ourselves at the altar to offer, to receive, be bless and go give. It is not enough just to apologise though that is important. It is about making things whole and asking God to do that – because there is no health in us! How can we give fittingly to God when we refuse to forgive someone else. Such things dislocate the heart and muddle the mind which in turn, thwarts worship and disrupt life.

So this week, take the time to seek out those whom you need to make amends with – without worry about who was right and wrong – and seek to move that relationship forward so that when it comes time to move towards the table, we come with joy and in righteousness, both with God and with neighbour. Chances are you will sleep better too!

Jason+