Bitterness, Anger, Shouting, and Reviling

Ever have an experience at religious service when it really seems like the readings are meant specifically for you? That happened to me this morning at mass. Here’s the second reading for today:

“Brothers and sisters: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.” – Ephesians 4:30 – 5:2

Um…yeah. Guilty as charged. There’s a lot more bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling in my house than I’d like, and not nearly enough kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. Aside from that, though, the reading was very timely because of my verbal altercation with a stranger yesterday in front of Alex.

*Sigh* I am a very long way from being a saint. May God grant me a long life. Otherwise, I’m screwed. 😉