“We forgive them that trespass against us.”
“We forgive them that trespass against us.” This means not to feel against our neighbour who has been guilty towards us (intentionally, obstinately, or unintentionally) any vexation, enmity, or malice, but to forgive him his fault in all simplicity of heart, vividly representing to ourselves our own infirmities and falling into sin,
and maintaining towards our guilty neighbour the same love and the same feelings of kindness which we felt
towards him before his fault. What would it be if the Lord were to notice our iniquities as we do the faults of
our neighbour? Who could withstand? But as the Lord is long-suffering and merciful, be also long-suffering and
merciful (not strictly exacting, but compassionate).
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind.” [1 Corinthian 13:4] Do not reckon the faults of your neighbour, consider them as though they were not; as nothing! We are one body,
and his body is a sinful one. What is more common and easier to us than sins? We breathe them like air. But the
Lord, the Head of the body of the Church, is the cleansing of them. Leave everything to the Head, Who worketh
all things in all; and hold fast to love alone, for it is the only infallible thing in our life (pure love). Do not serve the Devil by the spirit of enmity, malice, hatred; do not increase evil by evil, and do not spread the kingdom of
the enemy in the kingdom of Christ.
“Overcome evil with good.” [Romans 12:21]
For you cannot conquer evil with evil, just as you cannot put out fire by fire, but only by water. Malice is always an imagination of the Devil. Love is always God’s truth and God’s child.
St. John of Kronstadt, from My Life in Christ
You need to read Luke.
L
This has been an issue for me when the person is outright abusive. Am I doing it wrong?