Where does anger come from?

Dear parish family,

I was watching the news this weekend and saw so much hatred, anger, violence and rage stemming from the horrific events in Buffalo to a call for a ‘Summer of Rage’ to violent demonstrations. This left me to wonder and then pray about what could possibly be the source.

In his letter to the Galatians, St. Paul articulates the fruit of the Holy Spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal, 5: 22-23). What we are experiencing today seems to be the direct opposite of these. What then is the opposite of the Holy Spirit? St. Ignatius identifies this as the ‘Evil Spirit’. The Evil Spirit is the master of lies and deception, hatred and destruction.

I believe that what we are experiencing is not just a political issue, or a social issue but a spiritual issue. A spiritual battle between good and evil, light and darkness and truth and the lie.

As we approach the feast of Pentecost and pray ‘Come Holy Spirit’ may we truly embrace the Spirit of God and reject the spirit of evil.
God Bless,

-Fr. Dan