НАСМЕШКИ

If anyone begins to ridicule you, remember your Lord: He was worshiped with mockery, He was dishonored both in words and deeds, they laughed at Him a lot, but He not only did not take revenge in the same way, but repaid the opposite for everything - with meekness and patience. We too will imitate him (9). Whether they ridicule us or whether we endure something unfairly, we will constantly begin to say: “a servant is not greater than his master” (John 15:20), and we will imagine the words of the Jews, which they frantically said to Christ: “You are a Samaritan and ... you have a demon” (John 8:48); “He does not cast out demons except by the power of Beelzebub” (Matthew 12:24). This is why Christ suffered all this, so that we would follow in His footsteps and patiently endure ridicule. Ridicule irritates incomparably more than curses, and yet He not only endured them, but also did everything in order to deliver those who mocked Him and free them from the punishment that awaited them. So He sent the apostles for their salvation, and that is why you hear them say: “We know... that you... did this out of ignorance (Acts 3:17), and with such words they draw them to repentance (9). You might be interested in: