Anger [Ben Sira (Ecclesiasticus) 27:30 - 28:12]

Wrath and anger, these also are abominations, yet a sinner holds on to them. 

1. The vengeful will face the Lord’s vengeance; indeed he remembers their sins in detail. 
2. Forgive your neighbor the wrong done to you; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. 
3. Does anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord? 
4. Can one refuse mercy to a sinner like oneself, yet seek pardon for one’s own sins? 
5. If a mere mortal cherishes wrath, who will forgive his sins? 
6. Remember your last days and set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin! 
7. Remember the commandments and do not be angry with your neighbor; remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook faults. 
8. Avoid strife and your sins will be fewer, for the hot-tempered kindle strife; 
9. The sinner disrupts friendships and sows discord among those who are at peace. 
10. The more the wood, the greater the fire, the more the cruelty, the fiercer the strife; The greater the strength, the sterner the anger, the greater the wealth, the greater the wrath. 
11. Pitch and resin make fire flare up, and a hasty quarrel provokes bloodshed. 
12. If you blow on a spark, it turns into flame, if you spit on it, it dies out; yet both you do with your mouth!'

The Book of Sirach, also called Ben Sirach and Ecclesiasticus, along with the books of Tobit, Judith, Wisdom of Solomon, Baruch, the First Book of Maccabees, and the Second Book of Maccabees are considered Deuterocanonical Books in the Old Testament and are included as part of the canonical Scriptures by the Roman Catholic Church but are excluded by most Protestant denominations.  

Anger and wrath are destructive abominations that lead to sinful behavior yet the sinner through his folly holds onto them in his heart.  Those who seek revenge will themselves face God’s vengeance (Rom. 12:19).  Those who forgive others will receive God’s forgiveness for their sins when they pray (Mt. 6:12,14-15).  If a person holds anger in his heart he should not expect to receive healing and forgiveness from the Lord (Mt. 18:23-35).  If anyone refuses to show mercy and compassion to another sinner like himself, he should not expect to receive mercy and compassion from the Lord for his own sins.  And how can a mere frail human who embraces and nurtures anger expect God to forgive his sins?  Forgive and God will forgive you.  

Remember that death and God’s divine judgment are in everyone’s future so let that guide present thoughts and actions and refrain from anger and sin (Mt. 5:22).  Keep God’s commandments and remember his covenant so you will not hate your neighbor or cherish a grudge against him (Lv. 19:17-18).  Anger also contributes to the disruption of social harmony.  It disrupts friendships and creates strife (Prov. 15:18) so avoid arguments and conflict and you will reduce the occasion for sin (Prov. 26:20-21).  Stubbornness, power, wealth, and a lack of patience fuel anger.  The greater the offence and abuse the fiercer the anger.  Before anger gets out of control, the words we utter can either inflame anger and conflict or reduce anger and restore harmony.

Almighty God, in your mercy grant us the grace to release any anger we have stored in our hearts and to seek forgiveness from you.  Help us to be channels of your peace and to show mercy and forgiveness to others as you have shown mercy and forgiveness to us.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.

                Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.