The Pastoral Coordinator of Kabale Diocese, Rev Fr Fidel Ndagijimana, has asked Christians to forgive themselves, God and others, saying holding onto anger and resentment can trap people and rob them of peace.
In his homily during the Second Mass on Sunday at Christ the King Catholic Church Parish in Kabale Municipality, Rev Fr Ndagijimana said Christians should not allow anger to dominate their lives, urging them to address emotional wounds instead of turning to destructive behaviour.
He said some people allow anger to affect even their basic routines, including eating, because they want to punish people who have offended them.
“If someone abuses you or does something that you don’t like and you say, ‘I’m not going to eat your food,’ who will feel hungry?” Rev Fr Ndagijimana asked.
He warned Christians against allowing anger to push them into thoughts of self-harm or suicide, saying such thoughts can arise when people feel overwhelmed by emotional pain.
The priest urged people experiencing such thoughts or emotional distress to seek help rather than acting on them.
Rev Fr Ndagijimana also linked unresolved anger and stress to emotional and physical wellbeing, urging Christians to take time to examine their lives and identify the issues causing them distress.
He gave the faithful a “homework” of spending time alone to reflect on their emotional state.
“When you reach home, take time, sit alone. First feel yourself. Say: Am I having any pain? Am I happy? How is my life? Am I happy with my life?” he said.
He encouraged Christians to examine whether they are carrying resentment against someone who may have already moved on from the incident.
The priest said some people remain emotionally affected by events that the person who offended them may have forgotten long ago.
“This anger, the person who wronged me, does this person still think about it? He even stopped thinking about it a long time ago. But for you, at the same time you are thinking about it,” he said.
Rev Fr Ndagijimana warned that using alcohol, drugs or other substances to escape emotional problems does not resolve the underlying issues.
He challenged Christians to ask themselves whether such coping mechanisms are solving their problems or making them worse.
“Are you solving any problem, or are you increasing it?” he asked.
The priest encouraged Christians to confront the source of their emotional pain through reflection, prayer, reconciliation and seeking appropriate help where necessary.
He said people should not imprison themselves in anger and resentment, but should seek freedom through forgiveness.
“Some of you are in prison of anger. You are not free. You are not yourself,” Rev Fr Ndagijimana said.
He also reminded Christians of St Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 4:26, which calls on believers not to allow anger to linger.
He urged the faithful to practise forgiveness as a daily Christian discipline, saying releasing resentment can help people regain peace and strengthen their relationships with God and others.
Rev Fr Ndagijimana said forgiveness should begin with oneself, before extending it to God and other people.
“Let us learn to forgive, forgive and forgive,” he said.
CUE IN REV FR NDAGIJIMANA….ON SELF FORGIVENESS….ENG//
