Acknowledging our Dark Selves

'When Jesus left, the scribes and Pharisees began to act with hostility toward him and to interrogate him about many things, for they were plotting to catch him at something he might say." Lk 11:54

When someone threatens our person, property or power, we too often react. Rather than ask a question or seek understanding, we designate the threatening person an enemy and withdraw, challenge their opinion or threaten them with retribution.  Too often we see ourselves this way while driving. Someone cuts us off and we call them stupid or a threat to everyone on the road without knowing who they are or wondering what might cause them to act in a dangerous way.

While driving most often is not the most important area in our lives, it too often shows us how close our dark selves are to he surface and sometimes reveals our deepest anxieties. Threatened by the police or neighbors we react with anger or fear and promise ourselves we will not be intimidated or changed. How like the Pharisees we are. Reacting or threatening others is not the way of Jesus.

Today, ask yourself how you react with threatened and pray for conversion.

Who are the people you most admire when you see them under pressure?