How to be joyful always
Nov
01
2016
When a foolish person is accused or shouted at he is wounded by it and tries to contradict, or at once makes an apology to his accuser, not out of humility but in order to stop the accusations. But when you are being ridiculed, be silent, and receive with patience these spiritual cauterizations, or rather, purifying flames. And when the doctor has finished, then ask his forgiveness. For while he is angry perhaps he will not accept your apology.
In this way you will be joyful always.
Based on Saint John of the Ladder
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Orthodox
Thank you for this excellent lesson which help us a lot to be happy. It help us a lot to cultivate the most best virtue “Humility” that according to the Bible, at Beatitude 1 “Bless are those who are humble (=poor in spirit), for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”.
I have a question please:
What about the case when someone accuses us for why we didn’t something illegal (against the law) in order to benefit for himself in an unjustly way? How we should react in this situation please?
Thank you very much in advance for your kind help.
May Saint Mary and all Saints intercede for you to be blessed always!
Ioan Toma
Thanks for your appreciations. WRT your question: it depends on many factors. For example, if someone else has to suffer from this, if there are other secondary effects etc. In this situation THE best answer is, by far, go and talk with your spiritual father or (perhaps better) with an experienced spiritual Elder recognized as such by the Church. Tell him with more details your problem and ask his opinion.
Orthodox
Thanks a lot for your answer, which tell us to follow the advice of the church, or God’s advice, which is the best advice in rare and strange situations.
You have explained us the meaning of the “poor in spirit” which is being “humble”, the “way to be joyful” and so many other lessons… You are working very hard, as you study a lot what not only one but some saints said about the same topic, and then give us these lessons only in few words. It takes a lot of time. Thanks a lot for your time. You are meantime an example for us with your high dedication to God’s Word and how much you like to spread the Word in the world.
You have told us even to be “merciful” with other people.
What does it mean for you to be “merciful” with other people please?
Ioan Toma
We can say a lot of words about being merciful. A short definition would be like this: you are merciful when you are unjust but not in your favor but in favor of the other.
Orthodox
Excellent answer, in only too few words! You gave us the core meaning of the word “Merciful”, so easy for us to remember, and the way, as you have taught us, we should behave with other people.
Have All God’s Blessings Always!