Meditation for July 12, Rancor

Very few religious would ever try purposely and intentionally to injure anyone. But to harbor bitterness in the depths of the heart; to shun such and such a one with a sort of injured dignity; to maintain a silence that speaks volumes; to ruminate rancorous thoughts in sullen moodiness; to refuse to be agreeable; alas, this they can do. All this one meets even under the religious habit!

Let not the sun go down upon your wrath, recommended St. Paul to the Christians of Ephesus. One should like to say as much to certain souls who, believing themselves wounded, do not know how to pardon and more or less openly hold a grudge.

For a long time the sun has disappeared below the horizon; the noises of the earth are hushed; all seems at peace...every­where. But no, in the depths of certain hearts, something is seeth­ing; agitation is stirring; sad memories are reviving old wounds that would be better let alone.

All this is due to over-sensitiveness which is probably one reason that the culpability is not so great, but great vigilance must be exercised that not even the shadow of consent be mingled with this bitterness.

Such brooding must be cut short as soon as possible. What good is it to be perpetually talking to oneself of others' quirks and foibles and the turn of events. Throw them all into the torrent. They simply cause suffering without merit and make charity more and more difficult.

"O great Apostle St. Paul, teach me your large and liberal charity. Obtain for me the grace to be large-souled enough to follow your counsel of never letting the sun go down with the least wilful bitterness in my heart. Give me the grace to overlook how others wound me in word or deed and should I notice it, give me the strength to forget it as quickly as possible, and to rise above it."

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Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)