💖 HOMILY - JUNE 12 💖

First Reading - 2 Corinthians 3:15-4:1,3-6 

Gospel - Matthew 5:20-26

We all experience anger. As an emotion, it is not inherently bad—it has energy that can be directed positively. But when left unmanaged, anger becomes destructive and creates barriers between us and others, and even between us and God. The readings today invite us to recognize and remove the veils in our lives—especially the veil of unhealthy anger—that keep us from true communion with God and with one another.

In the first reading, Paul draws a contrast between those who truly believe in Christ and those who remain veiled. He refers to the veil in the Jewish temple that separated the people from the Holy of Holies, from the presence of God. Paul explains that those who have turned to the Lord have that veil removed. In Christ, there is no longer a barrier between us and God. We are called to live with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord and being transformed by it.

But when our hearts are hardened—through unbelief, through pride, through anger—we remain veiled. Faith in Christ lifts the veil and brings us into a relationship where God’s Spirit transforms us from within.

The gospel passage goes deeper into what it means to live this transformed life. Jesus warns against the danger of harboring anger. The Scribes and Pharisees were content with external obedience to the Law, but Jesus challenges us to look inward. He teaches that anger, even if it does not lead to violence, can still wound the soul and others. He speaks of three escalating levels:

1. Anger in the heart – the silent grudge, the desire for revenge, the refusal to forgive.

2. Anger in speech – insults that belittle and words that damage someone’s dignity or reputation.

3. Anger in action – when anger turns into physical harm or abuse.

Jesus calls us to go beyond the surface and examine our hearts. True righteousness is not just about keeping rules, but about inner transformation. It is about letting go of whatever separates us from God and others.

Dear friends, unhealthy anger becomes a veil that keeps us from love, joy, and peace. St. Paul reminds us, “Be angry, but do not sin” (Eph 4:26). Righteous anger, when directed toward justice or healing, can be a force for good. But anger that festers destroys relationships and robs us of peace.

Let us pray for the grace to be aware of our anger, to manage it, and to turn it over to God. May the Spirit of the Lord continue to remove every veil from our hearts so that we may see the face of God clearly, and reflect His love more perfectly to the world.