St. Mark the Ascetic: Counsels on the Spiritual Life; The Mind’s Advice to Its Own Soul; “Rejoice When We are Wronged”
"It is necessary, therefore, to speak only once about any matter and after that to forgive the person who seems to have done wrong, whether he has committed the wrong rationally or irrationally, because we know that the wages of forgiveness are greater than every virtue (Mt. 6:14-15). Since we are not able to do this on account of prior sin, we ought to entreat God with vigils and every kind of mortification until we find forgiveness and receive this great power. To do this, dear soul, we ought to have one end in sight at all times and places and at every opportunity: to rejoice and not be saddened when we are wronged in various ways by people - to rejoice, that is, not simplemindedly, nor purposelessly, but because we have found the cause for forgiving the person who has sinned against us and for receiving forgiveness for our sins.
This is the true knowledge of God, one that comprehends all knowledge, through which we are able to call upon God and be heard. This is the harvest that prayer brings in; through this, faith in Christ is demonstrated; through this, we are able to take up the cross and follow the Lord (Mt 16:24). This is the mother of the first and greatest commandments (Mt 22:38); through this, we are able to love God with all our heart and our neighbor as ourselves(Lk 10:27). On account of this, we ought to fast and keep vigils and practice mortification so that our heart, being opened to compassion, may welcome this true knowledge and not reject it. Then we will also find that the grace that has been given to us secretly through Holy Baptism will no longer be hidden and unknown, but will be working openly and with complete confidence because are forgiving our neighbor his sins."
Originally published in 'Mark the Monk' "Counsels on the Spiritual Life; Vols One and Two" by SVS Press Popular Patristics Series #37 2009
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