When you feel that anger flair up, Fr. Richard Simon has powerful advice that cuts straight through to the heart.
Your personal grudge isn’t doing anyone any favors (least of all you). 👀
Word of the Day: “Vengeance”
Fr. Simon looks at the Old Testament where the prophet Jeremiah is praying for God to smite his enemies. Like, full-on “Let me watch You take them down, Lord.”
Fr. Simon brings up the classic line from God in Deuteronomy 32:35: “Vengeance is mine, says the Lord.”
The Hebrew word for vengeance is “naqam.” Which literally just means… vengeance. (No fancy theological loopholes there.)
Revenge ≠ Righteous
Fr. Simon shares this key insight:
“When I take vengeance, I’m saying to God: ‘I’ll handle this. I don’t need You.’”
💡 Translation: Trying to get even = trying to play God. That job’s taken. 👑
😤 “But I Can’t Forgive Them!”
This is where Fr. Simon says:
Forgiveness just means letting go.
You don’t have to feel all warm and fuzzy. You just have to stop clutching that bitterness like it’s a spiritual security blanket.
If you’re stuck? He gives this gem: 👉 “Lord, I can’t forgive them, but I give You permission to forgive them for me.”
YES. That counts. 🙌
🚫 Theological Road Rage? Don’t Do It.
Fr. Simon brings the laughs with a dead-on warning about what he calls:
“Theological road rage”: when you stew over someone who wronged you and plot little imaginary vengeance stories
🛑 Cut it out. Not only does it not help, but often the other person may not even know you’re upset.
❤️ A Sweet Real-Life Story from a Listener
Mary from St. Paul calls in to share how she was able to forgive:
-She’s at adoration, feeling angry at someone.
-Turns out… that someone is literally in the chapel too. 😳
-She hears God gently say: “She’s my kid too.”
Fr. Simon laughs and adds:
“I always tell God, ‘If You knew people like I do, You wouldn’t like them!’ But… He still does. He even likes me.”
🛐 TL;DR Spiritual Nuggets:
-Forgiveness is not a feeling, it’s a decision.
-Let go of the “you owe me” mindset.
-God loves the person you can’t stand. Just like He loves you.
-Don’t let anger rent space in your heart… especially when the rent is paid in peace.
📢Final Thought: If you’re still angry, offer that hot mess up to God. He’s got the eternal toolbox to fix it. You don’t.
Honestly… life’s too short for theological road rage.
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