TOO HEATED TO SEE
The word translated in English as “rage” from the Greek word θυμός describes a feeling that is “heated,” impulsive, and passion-driven. It is the type of emotional response that elicits a tearing of one’s own clothes, as the king of Israel did in today’s reading. It is the type of response that makes Nazarenes want to (literally) throw Jesus off a cliff in today’s Gospel.
At times I’ve experienced this type of anger, in myself and others towards me. It blinds me from anything but anger. Today’s readings show this raw, all-too-human response through different lenses.
First, the king of Israel gets upset with Naaman (and his king, Aram) because he tells himself that Aram is picking a fight. Later, Naaman also gets angry with the prophet Elisha for Elisha’s seemingly trivial (later proven effective) recommendation of healing. What made these two upset seems to be the untrue and/or incomplete stories they told themselves of the other person. King Aram wanted Naaman to be healed. Elisha wanted to share how Naaman could be healed. Those motivations, however, were completely lost in the anger experienced by the king and Naaman, respectively.
The Gospel is written from the lens of the trigger: Jesus. The “how dare you say that?” response was elicited by Jesus’ proclamations that challenged what the crowds knew they knew to be true. Committed to this incomplete knowing, the Nazarenes could only see that angrily kicking Jesus out of town was the only option. Jesus wanted to be home with his people, ministering as he did throughout the region.
Many times I’ve gotten worked up because I couldn’t or wouldn’t see the rest of the story. Other times I have been met with anger and I’m left thinking, “Where did that come from?” My comfort comes in knowing a merciful God that sees and understands both experiences.
God, whose mercies are renewed each day, grant me the grace to see as you see. When I am blinded by rage, soften my gaze. When my truth is a trigger of rage in others, remind me of your love for me. In all the ways being a human is complicated, fill me with your mercy.
Vivian Valencia