Like some low-grade, persistent, but untreated infection in the body that, though not life-threatening, constantly undermines a person’s health, so habitual patterns of sin whose deeper roots are never uncovered may not extinguish the light of grace, but they do constantly rob us of inner peace and preclude that purity of heart without which we cannot see God. And it is in the service of uncovering these deep and often hidden roots of sin that Jesus issues his rather harsh and uncompromising admonitions against anger. For, the anger that drives someone to murder is but an extreme manifestation of the same root of anger that labels one’s brother or sister a “fool.” And so whereas anger is frequently identified as a problem and even a sin, it is more accurately a symptom of a deeper bondage to sin that remains hidden and continues unchallenged. In this octave of Pentecost let us, therefore, call anew on the Spirit to cast light on the deepest recesses of our hearts so that we can discover and root out these pernicious vestiges of sin and no longer be enslaved by their cruel domination.
Peggy Anderson says
Fr. Joseph, I remember about a year ago, you spoke of how important it is to get to the root of the sin, and not stop with the sin itself. I am finding that it’s helpful to share searching for the roots with a spiritual director/friend. On my own, I’m sometimes blind to what is deep inside.
Thanks for the reminder! Peace.