Anger Cannot Cook Any Good Meal for You. By: Rev. Fr. Clifford Atta Anim.

Scripture: “But Jesus turned and rebuked them.” (Luke 9:55)

The Fire of Anger and the Way of Jesus

Anger often feels like fire. It begins small, like a spark of frustration, but left unchecked, it can set the whole heart ablaze. When someone wrongs us, when we feel misunderstood or mistreated, the impulse to retaliate can rise quickly. Yet Jesus shows us that anger, however justified it may seem, cannot produce the fruit of peace or righteousness.

As St. James writes,

“The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20)

Luke 9:51-56, Jesus and His disciples are traveling through Samaria. The Samaritans refuse to welcome Him, reopening an old wound between Jews and Samaritans that had lasted for centuries. Offended, James and John ask,

“Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” (Luke 9:54)

They thought they were defending Jesus’ honor. But Jesus turns and rebukes them. His mission is not destruction but salvation (John 3:17). His way is not fueled by anger but by patient love.

That gentle rebuke of Jesus is worth meditating on. The disciples’ anger came from a place of loyalty, yet it was tainted by pride and impatience. How often does our own anger hide behind similar disguises? We convince ourselves we are standing for justice, but deep down we are just hurt, offended, or wanting control.

Jesus’ calm response teaches that no good thing ever grows out of anger’s heat. Like trying to cook a meal with fire too fierce, it only burns what could have been nourishing.

What the Church Fathers, Theologians, scripture, and Psychologists Teach About Anger

The early Church Fathers spoke strongly about anger because they saw how easily it destroys peace within the soul.

• St. John Chrysostom called anger “a short madness” that blinds the mind and poisons relationships (Homily on Ephesians 4:26).
• St. Basil the Great warned that anger “makes a man like a beast,” urging believers to “quench the flame before it grows.” (The Longer Rules, Question 8).
• St. Augustine taught that while anger can arise naturally, holding onto it corrupts the heart:
  “He who is angry and yet does not sin, resists the first movement of passion and keeps peace within.” (Commentary on the Psalms, Psalm 37)

Later, St. Thomas Aquinas offered a clear theological analysis in the Summa Theologica, explaining that anger is not always sinful in itself but becomes sinful when it seeks revenge beyond what justice allows (Summa Theologica, II–II, Q.158, Art.1–2). For Aquinas, righteous anger defends truth without hatred. Yet he insisted that charity must always moderate anger, for

“Anger without charity destroys the good it seeks to protect.” (Paraphrased summary, cf. Summa Theologica, II–II, Q.158, Art.2)

Scripture speaks with deep wisdom about anger, its dangers, and the peace that comes through self-control and forgiveness. Let these passages guide our reflection and prayer:

1. Proverbs 14:29 – “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.”
2. Proverbs 15:1 – “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
3. Ecclesiastes 7:9 – “Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.”
4. Psalm 37:8 – “Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.”
5. Sirach 28:2-4 – “Forgive your neighbor the wrong he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray. Does anyone harbor anger against another, and expect healing from the Lord?”
6. Matthew 5:22 – “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.”
7. Ephesians 4:26-27, 31-32 – “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil… Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
8. James 1:19-20 – “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
9. Colossians 3:8 – “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.”
10. Romans 12:19-21 – “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Modern psychology adds a complementary voice. The American Psychological Association (APA) defines anger as “an emotion characterized by antagonism toward someone or something you feel has deliberately done you wrong” and notes that chronic anger “can have serious mental and physical consequences” (American Psychological Association, “Managing Anger,” 2023).

Psychologists encourage acknowledging anger but transforming it into constructive communication and forgiveness. Research also shows that forgiveness leads to better emotional regulation, lower stress, and improved heart health (see Mayo Clinic, “Forgiveness: Letting Go of Grudges and Bitterness,” 2023).

Both the saints and modern science agree: unchecked anger is a fire that burns inward. It may begin with a sense of justice but quickly turns into destruction. Only forgiveness cools the flame, turning what could destroy us into a source of grace.

Walking the Road Through Samaria with Love

To follow Christ is to let Him teach our hearts how to cool the fire of resentment. Forgiveness is not weakness but strength under grace. It is the quiet victory of mercy over pride. It is the decision to let love, not anger, have the last word.

The road Jesus takes through Samaria becomes a symbol of the journey every disciple must make through the rough terrain of human hurts, toward the peace that only forgiveness can give.

If you are carrying anger toward a friend, a colleague, a family member, or even toward yourself, pause and listen to Jesus’ voice as He turns and rebukes the storm within you. He does not condemn, He calms. He whispers,

“Peace, be still.” (Mark 4:39)

The Spirit of Christ invites you to walk through your own Samaria with love, not fire.

A Prayer for Inner Peace

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me… restore to me the joy of your salvation.” (Psalm 51:10–12)

When anger knocks on your heart, remember this: no good meal has ever been cooked by bitterness. Only love can season life with peace, and only forgiveness can make the heart a home for God. God bless you.

Reflection by Rev. Fr. Clifford Atta Anim

📖 www.frcliffordhomilies.com

References and Sources

1. Holy Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition (NRSVCE).
2. John Chrysostom, Homily on Ephesians 4:26, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series I, Vol. 13, ed. Philip Schaff, 1889.
3. St. Basil the Great, The Longer Rules, Question 8, in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, Vol. 8, ed. Philip Schaff and Henry Wace, 1895.
4. St. Augustine of Hippo, Commentary on the Psalms (Psalm 37), in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series I, Vol. 8, ed. Philip Schaff, 1888.
5. St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, II–II, Q.158, Articles 1–2, translated by the Fathers of the English Dominican Province, Benziger Bros., 1947.
6. American Psychological Association (APA), Managing Anger, 2023. https://www.apa.org/topics/anger/control
7. Mayo Clinic, Forgiveness: Letting Go of Grudges and Bitterness, 2023. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/in-depth/forgiveness/art-20047692