Jesus equates the killing principle of ancestors to the Anger - Why?

Gospel Thoughts

*Lent : Second Week: Friday*

*GOSPEL - Mt 5:20-26*

*First Reading - Ez 18:21-28*

*Jesus equates the killing principle of ancestors to the Anger - Why?*

*1) There is a shift from killing to Anger* 

*You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.*

But Jesus says *whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment*

So we see there is a shift from killing to getting angry

*2) Killing and Getting angry*

As we know killing is a grave offence and for which punishment is must 

Such persons should be liable for judgement and punishment. There is no doubt about it 

But comparing to killing, anger seems to be having lesser gravity. That is what we think. But according to Jesus, anger is as equal as killing. 

If so we need to reflect seriously why anger is so severe and equal to killing. 

*3) Anger is the root cause of all evil*

It is believed that every evil act has its foundation in anger 

The moment a person gets angry all the problems and troubles begin 

In fact every dispute begins with anger and then it continues to the greater evil acts 

*4) Anger gradually turns into revenge*

The growing of the anger turns into revenge

When the anger becomes so severe and deep it turns into the emotion of anger and finally it comes out in different forms 

So one needs to be very careful about the anger 

*5) Different stages of Anger*

The Gospel of the day shows us the different stages of anger

At the first level anger results in insulting the other 

At the second level it results in calling another person *Fool*

Thirdly anger makes all your charity works useless and fails to yield any fruit 

Fourthly anger makes the another person to go to the court and situation becomes worse 

Fifthly anger reaches you to the judge and then you are handed over to the guard 

Sixthly, anger ultimately makes you to land in the prision and you become a slave 

Seventh : Anger makes you to pay heavy fine and you lose all your savings for nothing. 

So this is the ugly face of the anger. So unless one is careful anger will result in losing everything

*6) Anger is the deadliest face of evil*

Anger is deadliest, because it causes in losing everything

Due to anger one loses the Peace of mind, 

It results in losing good reputation, friends, happiness, some times even the job, family, relationship, concern for one another, sacrifice, humility, forgiveness, and finally it takes away everything

*7) Anger is equal to killing*

Anger finally ends up killing no only the human beings but it also kills evey values

So anger leaves nothing in life. So it is dangerous in our life. 

That is why Jesus equates anger with killing 

Anger kills everything in life. So anger is more dangerous than killing 

*8) Anger kills slowly where as killing is one act*

In killing the action takes place at once. 

In anger killing takes place slowly, which is very painful and a severe kind of torture. 

So anger becomes most deadliest thing in life than anything else.

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*