“When you have been insulted, cursed, or persecuted by someone, do not think of what has happened to you, but of what will come from it, and you will see that your insulter has become the cause of many benefits to you, not only in this age, but in that which is to come” St. Mark the Ascetic (360-430)

Our normal human tendency is to retaliate in kind. In this way we are following the Law of sin within us. But what does our life in the Spirit tells us?  “But to you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.^” (Luke 6:27-28) We cannot break the chain of evil, if we do evil. Even though in the moment we did not deserve the mistreatment, for our many sins, we deserve far worse treatment. It is better to suffer in this life than in the next. Enduring these sufferings patiently and silently will prove who is the person in relationship to Christ, who so suffered for our sake.