Skip to main content
  • Vocations
  • Associates
  • Shrine
Society of the Sacred Heart, US – Canada Province
  • Home
  • Menu
    • RSCJ.org
    • Associates
    • Vocations
    • Shrine

    • Who We Are
      • Overview
      • Our mission
      • Our guiding calls
      • Our internationality
      • Our provincial leadership
      • Our related organizations
      • Our heritage and traditions
    • Our Mission Lived
      • Overview
      • Education
      • Spirituality
        • Overview
        • Spirituality Centers
        • Children of Mary
      • Justice
        • Overview
        • Stuart Center
        • Ethical investing
        • Healthy Waters
      • Community
        • Overview
        • Welcoming communities
        • RSCJ retirement communities
      • Young Adult Ministry
      • Duchesne Fund
    • Connect
      • Become an Associate
      • Become a Sister
      • Join our mailing list
      • Find an RSCJ
      • Request a prayer
    • Ways to give
    • Resources
      • Our spiritual library
      • Publications
      • Heart magazine
      • Revealing God's Love in the Midst of Uncertainty
      • RSCJ Blogs
      • Quotes from RSCJ
    • Our History
      • Overview
      • History of Enslavement
      • Key figures
      • Archives
      • Miracle at Grand Coteau
      • New Province Foundations
    • News
    • In Memoriam
  • Donate
  • Login

Third Sunday of Lent: Holy anger

By Lori Wilson, co-chair, Associates Leadership Team

I’m shocked at Jesus in this past Sunday’s Gospel! Frustrated, angry, making whips, dumping money, overturning tables. It doesn’t sound like the calm, peaceful loving Jesus we may want to reflect in our blessed and broken world. Who is this? This is not the peaceful Jesus who companions me every day. There has to be a message for me in this Gospel. 

Recently, we have had fundraisers after Mass in the vestibule of my Church. I’ve seen 50/50 tickets sold and, at one time, the winning ticket was pulled in the Church, from the ambo. If someone came into Church today with a whip, spilling money, and overturning tables, we would call 911. There is no doubt about it. So, I ask again, what is the hidden message in this Gospel for me, and maybe for you, this Lent? 

For me, it has to do with the sacredness of all of the range of emotions that humans experience, from sadness to joy, to disappointment and rage. Jesus was expressing, what feels to me like, disappointment and frustration through his anger. This year I have felt disappointment and frustration at the continued racial violence and systemic racism in our country and I’ve often expressed this through anger. I’ve been embarrassed over our contentious presidential election and again I’ve turned to anger. I’ve been frustrated living under the cloud of COVID-19, the immense loss of life, and at times I have turned to anger.

I also am aware that, as a woman especially, I tend to be very careful how I express my anger. I’ve been called “feisty,” “over-emotional,” and “a bit out of control,” and this has never felt good. In fact, it often incites stronger emotions!  Yet Jesus calls me to embrace my emotions, all of them, not just some of them!

Lent is a time for transformation, for renewal. I’m called to embrace all of the gifts that I have been given. Our emotions are a gift. I will not express my anger by turning over tables and making a whip, but I will use my words to express myself with respect when I have something to say.

The surprising thing in a Gospel is often what God calls me to look at. Of course, Jesus was not violent, he told people to turn the other cheek and to put away the sword. So there must be another message here. I think it’s that holy anger is something to be recognized and to be used to help express the truth we see, with respect, with an eye to making the world into the reign of God that Jesus told us we could create, and to allow Jesus to be Jesus, not just love the peaceful companion I have made him out to be. I’m called to embrace all of who Jesus is, even as someone who can get angry.

Reflection questions

  • What emotions do I hesitate to express? Why?
  • How is God calling me to embrace all of my emotions?
  • Do I have holy anger that I hold back from sharing in appropriate ways? What causes it?  How can I express it in ways that can make a difference?
Share this:
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
  • email

The Latest

Photo by Shot by Cerqueira on Unsplash

Resurrection Power

April 29, 2025

Living Solidarity

April 16, 2025
Photo by Alice Donovan Rouse from Unsplash

Pathway to Peace

March 28, 2025

Follow us

Society of the Sacred Heart

4120 Forest Park Avenue | St. Louis, MO 63108
314.652.1500 | 314.534.6800 fax
EIN: 43-1272049

© RSCJ.org | Email | Translate
Sitemap

Who We Are

Overview

Our mission

Our guiding calls

Our internationality

Our provincial leadership

Our related organizations

Our heritage and traditions

Our Mission Lived

Overview

Education

Spirituality

Overview
Spirituality Centers
Children of Mary

Justice

Overview
Stuart Center
Ethical investing
Healthy Waters

Community

Overview
Welcoming communities
RSCJ retirement communities

Young Adult Ministry

Duchesne Fund

Connect

Become an Associate

Become a Sister

Join our mailing list

Find an RSCJ

Request a prayer

Ways to give

Resources

Our spiritual library

Publications

Heart magazine

Revealing God's Love in the Midst of Uncertainty

RSCJ Blogs

Quotes from RSCJ

Our History

Overview

History of Enslavement

Key figures

Archives

Miracle at Grand Coteau

New Province Foundations

News

In Memoriam

Copyright © RSCJ.org | Web design