ON MALICE
(On Remembrance of Wrongs)
The remembrance of wrongs, real or
imaginary, has senseless anger for its mother. It is the keeper of
sin. It hates a just way of life. It is turning away from love.
It is a pleasure-less feeling
cherished in the sweetness of bitterness. It is a never-ending sin,
an unsleeping wrong, a dark and loathsome passion.
He who conquers anger wipes out the
remembrance of wrongs since, killing the mother, you kill the
offspring.
A loving man banishes revenge; but
a man remembering wrong stores up troublesome labor for himself.
Remembrance of wrongs rises from an
extravagant table which brings forth license; then gluttony replaces
love. This is one tiny step from fornication.
If you must remember wrongs, think
only of the wrongs the devil has done to you. He makes your body an
ungrateful and treacherous friend. The more you care for it, the
more it hurts you.
Malice twists the words of
Scriptures to suit itself. Malice is gone only when you do not
rejoice at the misfortune of him who has offended you.
To remove malice, see what your sin
did to Jesus. Embrace malice and you will have no forgiveness.
To forget wrongs is proof you are
repentant. To remember wrongs is proof of an unrepentant soul.
St. John Climacus
(11-21-02)
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