Dealing With The Anger Of Men

Quid autem contra furorem lapidantium Dominus fecerit ostenditur cum protinus subinfertur: Jesus autem abscondit se, et exivit de templo. Mirum valde est, fratres charissimi, cur persecutores suos Dominus se abscondendo declinaverit, qui si divinitatis suae potentiam exercere voluisset, tacito nutu mentis in suis eos ictibus ligaret, aut in poena subitae mortis obrueret. Sed quia pati venerat, exercere judicium nolebat. Certe sub ipso passionis tempore et quantum poterat ostendit, et tamen hoc ad quod venerat pertulit. Nam cum persecutoribus suis se quaerentibus diceret: Ego sum, sola hac voce eorum superbiam perculit, et omnes in terram stravit. Qui ergo et hoc in loco potuit manus lapidantium non se abscondendo evadere, cur abscondit se, nisi quod homo inter homines factus Redemptor noster, alia nobis verbo loquitur, alia exemplo? Quid autem nobis hoc exemplo loquitur, nisi ut, etiam cum resistere possumus, iram superbientium humiliter declinemus? Unde et per Paulum dicitur: Date locum irae. Quanta humilitate iram proximi fugere debeat, perpendat homo, si furores irascentium abscondendo se declinavit Deus. Nemo ergo se contra acceptas contumelias erigat, nemo conviciis convicium reddat. Imitatione etenim Dei, gloriosius est injuriam tacendo fugere, quam respondendo superare. Sed contra hoc superbia dicit in corde: Turpe est ut, accepta injuria, taceas. Quisque conspicit quia contumeliam accipis et taces, non putat quia patientiam exhibes, sed crimina agnoscis. Sed unde vox iste in corde nostra contra patientiam nascitur, nisi quia in imis cogitationem fiximus, et dum in terra gloriam quaerimus, placere ei qui nos de caelo conspicit non curamus? Accepta contumelia, meditemur in opere vocem Dei: Ego non quaero gloriam, est qui quaerat et judicet. Sanctus Gregorius Papa I, Homiliarum In Evangelia, Homila XVIII  Migne PL 76 1152-53

How the Lord acted against the fury of those who wished to stone him is shown immediately below: 'Jesus hid himself from them and left the temple.' 1 A great wonder it is, dear brothers, that the Lord avoided his persecutors by hiding Himself, who if He had wished to exercise the power of His Divinity, with a silent nod of His mind could have bound them in their own blows, or overwhelmed them with the sudden punishment of death. But because He came to suffer, He did not wish to execute judgement. Certainly in the time of His passion, much he was able to show, but He came to bear it. For to His persecutors seeking Him he said, 'I am,' and with this alone he shook their pride and they all lay sprawled on the ground. 2 He then who in this place could have, without hiding himself, escaped the hands of those who would stone him, why did He hide himself, unless being made a man among men our Redeemer wished to speak of other things and give other lessons? Why indeed is this example given to us, unless that when we are able to resist the anger of the proud we humbly decline? Whence it is said by Paul: 'Give a space to anger.' 3 How much humility there is in the flight from the anger of a neighbour, let a man consider if God avoided the rage of angry men by hiding Himself. No one, therefore, should puff himself up against receiving contumely, no one should return abuse to an abuser. In the imitation of God more glorious it is to fly an injury in silence, than to stand with response. But against this the proud in heart says, 'Wretched it is to receive injury and be silent. Whoever sees that contumely is received in silence, does not think endurance is exhibited but he marks a fault.' But whence comes this voice in our heart against endurance unless in base thoughts we are fixed and while we seek glory on earth we have no care to please Him who looks on us from heaven? Receive contumely and let us meditate on the voice of God: 'I do not seek glory, there is one who will look to it and be the judge.' 4 Pope Saint Gregory the Great, Homilies On The Gospels, from Homily 18 1 Jn 8.59 2 Jn 18.6 3 Rom 21.19 4 Jn 8.50