To love always, everyone, in all circumstances, is the path to direct entry into Heaven.
It is also the most difficult thing to do on this planet, to the last breath.
But love -- simple love -- is an actual force and the most important one in the universe.
The opposite of love is anger -- not hatred, but anger. Anger is defined as rage, vexation. exasperation, displeasure, crossness, irritation, irritability, indignation, pique, annoyance, fury, wrath, ire, outrage, irascibility, ill temper, "slow burn," aggravation -- all of which argue against love, for Scripture tells us that love is patient, love is kind, and that love "bears all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7).
Do you realize that anger is a choice, a decision?
You are not born angry. You choose it. You decide to be angry or not angry.
One can't help to note the term "cross" for anger: instead of reacting with irritation, we should bear it as a sacrifice; instead of crossness, we should look to see what cross may be burdening the person we're mad at. (Did their cross lead them to do something that bothered us? Might we pray that they be relieved? Do we dislike in them what we dislike in ourselves?)
Meanwhile, "vexation" is also very interesting because it's a term exorcists use for a category of demonic manifestation. In his fascinating book, An Exorcist Explains the Demonic, Father Gabriele Amorth, the world's most famous exorcist, said, "Diabolical vexations are the second type of the devil's extraordinary spiritual aggression and are far and away the most numerous. Vexations are true and actual aggressions, physical or psychological attacks that the demon works against a person."
Don't work for the devil. It is God Who loves and Satan who rages. When you're angry, you're in tune with evil and energize it.
Anger fuels hatred and this we see all around us. Witness our politics.
(We get the leaders we deserve; who we elect reflects us; in this way, we elect ourselves.)
And so we witness the chaotic rancor around us. We must ask: to what extent is this also happening in our lives? What am I choosing? How often do I think or speak or e-mail or blog angry thoughts?
When you get "mad" at someone, remember that what angers us in others is often an imperfection that we share, that we ourselves have. Subconsciously, we detest the imperfections within us.
Anger serves the devil. It contorts your face. It makes you ugly. It darkens your spirit. It is the opposite of joy. The Virgin Mary has said that she is beautiful because she loves. You can't be both joyful and angry. You can't praise God with anger.
It is the stuff of demons, who rage -- hot with it.
Anger is the fire of hell.
Look at that term "mad": it's also used to describe someone who is demented (as in the madmen at Gadarenes). Spelled backwards, it's "dam." When we're not careful, it builds up in us. Choose joy.
The only "right" anger is righteous indignation, and even that must be inspired by love or it tends to evil.
We are all born naked and to a large extent we all choose anger, pride, ego, fears, addiction, prejudice. Through prayer, we also can choose -- make the decision -- to rid it. If not, we are cleansed of it in the afterworld; for anger does not enter Heaven.
[resources: A Life of Blessings, An Exorcist Explains the Demonic, and What You Take To Heaven or both in a special offer]
