A year with the holy righteous John of Kronstadt. Meeknesstranslated

“Remember the saying of the Holy Scripture: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Rom. 12:21). They are rude to you, they irritate you, they breathe contempt and malice at you - do not repay in kind, but be quiet, meek and affectionate, respectful and loving towards those who behave unworthily in front of you. If you yourself become embarrassed and speak with excitement, rudely, contemptuously and, therefore, without any love, then you yourself are defeated and those who offended you have the right to say: “Physician, heal yourself” or: why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but don’t feel the log in your eye?.. first take the log out of your eye (Matthew 7:3-5). Do not be surprised if rudeness is often repeated to you from those who insult you, for they will notice your weakness and will deliberately irritate you. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Show the one who insulted you that he did not offend you, but himself, take pity on him heartily, that he is so easily overcome by his passions, that he is mentally ill, show him the greater meekness and love, the ruder and more irritable he is, the more hatred he has for you - and you will surely defeat him. Good is always stronger than evil and is therefore always victorious. Remember also that we are all weak...