Christ is in our midst, my dear readers!
Today the Holy Church sets before us for our prayerful reflection the words of the holy Apostle Paul: For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me? (2 Cor. 2:2). In these words is revealed the mystery of true pastoral ministry, the mystery of Christian love, and the complex process of the spiritual healing of the human soul.
At first glance, the Apostle’s words may seem contradictory. How can the one whom we have caused sorrow become the source of our joy? But the Apostle is speaking here of that difficult yet necessary pain which arises when sin encounters the truth of God.
The Apostle Paul reproved the Corinthians. He wrote them stern and bitter words, admonishing them, correcting them, and calling them to repentance. Yet these rebukes were never for him an expression of human anger, vainglory, or a desire to assert his own authority. On the contrary, the Apostle presents his reproof as a manifestation of the greatest, self-sacrificing love.
In the spiritual life, sorrow caused for the sake of correction is medicine, not poison. When a physician cleanses a wound, he causes the patient pain, but that pain is salutary. In the same way, a pastoral word of reproof, spoken with love, grieves the carnal man but revives the spirit. The true joy of a pastor lies in the spiritual correction and growth of his flock. And the joy of the flock itself lies in the consolation that comes when their repentance heals the pastor’s sorrow and restores unity.
We live in a time when the human heart is exhausted by sorrows. Therefore, as Christians, we have no right to become a source of new and senseless sorrow where there is already so much grief. Our duty is to seek every opportunity for reconciliation, mutual forgiveness, and sincere prayer for one another. We are called to pray even for our enemies and unceasingly to ask God for that peace “which passeth all understanding”—the peace that comes from Christ Himself.
Our relationships with others require the highest degree of spiritual discernment. The Holy Fathers often taught that there are two kinds of sorrow and two kinds of words. There are sorrows that we cause our neighbors out of our own vainglory, irritation, resentment, or stubborn desire to insist upon our own way. Such words and deeds we must avoid with all the strength of our souls. They do not heal; they only wound, deepen the gulf between people, and poison the atmosphere of our lives.
But there is another kind of truth—when silence would amount to a betrayal of love. If our word, even though unpleasant, difficult, and bitter, is capable of bringing another person to recognize his error, to repent, and to return to the path of life, then such a word ought to be spoken. But it must be spoken solely with love, meekness, and fervent prayer for the person to whom we speak. If, however, we sense that our reproof is prompted only by resentment, pride, or the desire to humiliate the other person, it is better to remain silent and repent of what is in our own heart.
As we reflect upon the words we address to others, let us not forget the other side of this spiritual mystery. If such a word—a bitter, painful, reproving word—is addressed to us, let us not hasten to take offense and close our hearts. The natural reaction of fallen man to correction is self-defense, self-justification, and retaliation. But a spiritual person strives to see beyond the outwardly unpleasant form, and understand it as an opportunity for his own correction.
If we are grieved by the truth, let us accept it as a bitter but beneficial medicine. If, however, we are grieved unjustly, let us accept it as an opportunity to practice patience and humility.
May the Lord grant us heavenly wisdom to discern when our word should become the medicine of love—courageous yet meek—and when it should become the silence of humility, covering our neighbor’s sin with prayer and forgiveness.
Let us remember that the goal of the Christian life is neither victory in disputes nor proving ourselves right, but love, peace, and the salvation of souls. May that joy of which the Apostle Paul speaks to us today—the joy of mutual correction, sincere repentance, and profound reconciliation filled with grace—become our joy as well, strengthening us on the path to the Kingdom of Heaven.
