"He took over anger to intimidate subordinates, and in time anger took over him." St. Albert the Great (1200-1280)

Once we give way to the vice of anger, it has a way of consuming us and poisoning us. How often King Saul gave vent to his anger against David, because of fear and jealousy! Saul wanted to control the narrative, written by God. He used his anger to do this. He even turned against his own son in anger. A life of uncontrolled anger is destructive to others and to self. It drains the joy of life, the peace of the soul, and one’s relationship with God. It spawns hatred and retaliation, paranoia and isolation. What is the antidote to anger? Repentance and reconciliation. Forgiveness and letting the past go. Right relationship with God is more important than personal feelings and self-justification.  Heed the words of the Psalm: “Refrain from anger; abandon wrath; do not be provoked; it brings only harm.” Psalm 37:8)