- LENT 2020: Week 1, Day 3
- Friday, February 28, 2020:
It’s easy to look down at Jonah and condemn his anger. After all, the story is farcical. It’s good writing, and as readers the author wants us to condemn Jonah. By doing so, though, we condemn ourselves.
We shouldn’t condemn Jonah’s anger, not in itself, for anger in itself is not a bad thing. In fact, there are times when anger is appropriate and warranted. In fact, as we look around at the inequality in our world, we should probably get angry far more often.
But Jonah’s anger is not that. Instead of a righteous anger over injustice, his is a petty anger that we can relate to all too well.
Yesterday, we reflected on how privilege can cause us to expect to always be the center of attention - and cause us to be angry when we are not. Like Jonah, we get angry when we see people get things we don’t think they deserve.
When this kind of anger comes over us, it’s good to lean on the Psalms.
During Lent, may we learn to recite the Psalms. And as we do, may we allow them to shape our attitudes, to shape our thoughts, to shape our actions, to shape our entire outlook on life.
“Grant me grace, God,” says the psalmist.
As we pray this Psalm, may we be trained to see past our privilege - and to see ourselves as in need of grace.
A pure heart create for me, God,
and a firm spirit renew within me.
and a firm spirit renew within me.
As we go throughout the day, as we go throughout this weekend, may we carry these words with us.
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