Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk, Bishop of Voronezh
Aspersion is a great evil. It is a great evil when the others try to deride you.
It happens. Suddenly. Abruptly.
And sometimes it is a righteous judgment of God for us; and sometimes not.
• In the first case, when we have been guilty and committed errors, by putting the blame on other people, similar to those blame that they have already put on us, we must not stick to how much we suffer, but to correct these “things”, and, at the same time, improve our conduct.
And then the condemnation we receive will stop.
• In the case that we are strongly criticized, whereas we do not remember having ever committed such mistakes at the expense of others, it is natural to feel very bad.
But do we still have to think that we might not be as innocent as we imagine it?
* Did I, too, treat others badly unintentionally?
* Did I judged and criticized others?
• You should never forget:
* For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
* Based on your sins, you will be judged.
At the same time, we should not forget something else:
Every condemnation we receive is not just something harmful. It is, at the same time, beneficial. It helps us to become better; to become more humble.
Bad language and sharp tongue are “a messenger of Satan,” as Paul the Apostle says (2 Corinthians 12:7), which God sends us to “torment” us so that we do not think high of ourselves.
God wants to help us to limit our vainglory and complacency, to stop thinking high of ourselves.
God allows these things to happen in order to look at ourselves.
When we look at our inner self, at our inner world, at the way we react to it, will we be able to understand what is inside us: anger and fury or goodness and meekness?
Do you react to the insults against you? Do you respond to aspersion with resentment and bitterness? It is obvious that you are angry and furious.
Do you respond with patience? You are peaceful and meek.
So let’s not forget it:
Insults, slander, aspersion help us to understand our inner self; they help us to see our inner world.
Isn’t that such a great thing?
