Jan 18 – IS NOT PROVOKED!

“Love…is not provoked” (I Corinthians 13:5).

Love will cover a multitude of sins. When the sins are covered, there is no space for hatred and anger. There will not be a sign of fight or separation. Love will rule divinely.

Once, the parents of a girl chose a wealthy boy as life partner to their daughter. But, after marriage, brutal nature of the boy got revealed. One day, he quarrelled with his wife, beat her terribly and went away. After a few hours, he returned home to see what had happened to his wife and to know whether she is alive or not. On entering the home, he was surprised to see food being kept ready for him on the dining table. His wife welcomed him with a smiling face expressing her gladness that he had returned home early and began to serve food to him.

After a few minutes of silence, he slowly asked, “I have beaten you too much. Is it not?” In reply, she said, “No. You did not beat me. You have hit yourself. My hand joined yours in the presence of God during our marriage. From that moment, my body has become that of yours.

God also has clearly said, “The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does” (I Corinthians 7:4). You are the head given to me by God, and I am your possession. You have every right to beat or trample me. Whatever you may do, God has given none other than you for me to show my love.” The husband, on hearing these words began to cry bitterly. That day, the family got bound with deep love. Whichever man wins the anger with love, he will always be victorious in all situations. A devotee said that anger is the symptom of defeat. He, who wins over anger is victorious.

To what a great extent, Jesus Christ experienced reproach, shame and mock! In addition to these things, He was beaten with sticks; nailed on the cross. Even in this situation, Jesus did not show anger. Instead, He prayed to the Father saying, “Father, forgive them.” That is the way to overcome anger.

When Jesus Christ was in this world, He asked His disciples several times to love each other. He cited Himself as an example of that. Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). Dear children of God, may you overcome anger with love.

To meditate: “Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfilment of the law” (Romans 13:10).