17 January 2026

The book of Proverbs is a treasure chest of wisdom. Some say it was  written by King Solomon probably  to add an authority to them which is unnecessary because this wisdom literature speaks for itself and has an authority all of its own. Consider these two proverbs. The first is to be found in Proverbs 6;16-19.

‘There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that hurry to run to evil, a lying witness who testifies falsely, and one who sows discord in a family.’

The first six are hated by God. They include pride, deceit and violence. We agree. They are bad, very bad. But the seventh is an abomination to the Lord. And what’s that? ‘One who sows discord in a family.’ The unity of a family, a community, the Church is to be treasured more than anything else.

It is disunity which is an abomination – and yet, unity is easily damaged. How is it to be avoided. The second of my two proverbs gives us a clue. It is to be found in Proverbs 19;11 and reads, ‘Those with good sense are slow to anger, and it is their glory to overlook an offence.’

The angry heart is a physical disaster resulting in high blood pressure, strokes and heart attacks. It does damage not only to self but to other people too. It destroys harmony and creates disunity. It is better to exercise some self-control and try to keep  a calm sooch.

There is much to commend a person who overlooks an offence. This requires two graces. The first is forgiveness and the second is patience. To overlook an offence is not to accept it but to enfold it in grace which, in itself, is judgement for all.