In today's Gospel, Jesus calls us to a deeper, more authentic righteousness - one that goes far beyond external observance and reaches into the very core of our hearts. Anger, He warns, can become a subtle but powerful force that destroys peace within us and fractures our relationships with others. Why do we get angry? Very often, it is because we want to be right. We want to defend our pride or to protect our ego. In moments like these, the desire to win an argument or assert ourselves can overshadow the deeper call to love.

Jesus invites us to a different, indeed radical path: the path of reconciliation. He teaches that restoring broken relationships is more important than proving our correctness or preserving our pride. This is a difficult teaching because it asks us to confront our own limitations. It requires humility to admit that we can be wrong, that we are all fallible. When we embrace this humility, our hearts become more open to listening deeply, forgiving sincerely and allowing healing to take place.

Let us strive to be humble and gentle, caring more for people than for winning a point or defending our pride. May the Holy Spirit soften our hearts so that, instead of reacting with anger, we respond with patience, compassion and understanding. Following Jesus' way, may our relationships be restored, our hearts transformed and our lives grow in true righteousness.