Forgiveness – Give an Enemy a Cup of Cold Water

Ancient Faith Ministries ^ | March 10, 2021 | Fr. Stephen Freeman

[Carpe Cerevisi]

There is a story related in Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov about an old woman who was quite wicked. She dies and goes to hell to the great distress of her guardian angel. The angel searches for any possible good deed to plead on her behalf and finds a rotten onion – something the old woman had given to a beggar. The angel takes the onion and, with it, begins to pull the old woman out of hell. The end of the story is less than successful, but its power lies in the importance and significance given to even the smallest act of kindness.

Christ gives a similar significance to a seemingly trivial action – giving a cup of cold water:

“And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward.” (Matthew 10:42)

This small action, for me, offers a hint towards a way forward in the forgiveness of enemies (those who have caused us harm). Few things are more painful than the injuries we gather over the years. I find that most people do not have “enemies” in any classical sense. Rather, we have people with whom we’ve had painful encounters. Bitter words and actions, anger and insults, never seem to disappear on their own. If they go away, it is often because we find ways to emotionally block their remembrance. Reminders often bring a fresh or renewed sense of injury. It is thus rarely our “enemies” that give us difficulties so much as their remembrance. They become “psychic” enemies, collections of bitterness harbored in parts of the brain that, for some reason, seem to be primarily concerned with such things.

[Carpe Cerevisi]

The latest from Fr. Stephen Freeman.

[edwinland]

superb

[Carpe Cerevisi]

This is timely in that this Sunday is Forgiveness Sunday in the Orthodox Church. Beyond that, we should “forgive everyone for everything” as Fr. Stephen mentions.

[Noumenon]

"We should forgive our enemies, but not before they are hanged."

Heinrich Heine

[Menehune56]

That’s a keeper, thanks.

[Paved Paradise]

I just finished reading “The Brothers Karamazov,” and I believe it to be one of the greatest - if not THE greatest - novels of all time. Certainly, it has many, many layers to it; and stories within stories.

The onion story was very powerful and I spent a good time thinking about it and even wrote about it in a post on social media many months ago. There are so many lessons to be learned from this one great work. Too bad more universities do not teach the novel. But, I’m sure a lot of these young people would not be able to get through it, because it is a very long book.

[F450-V10]

Thanks so much for posting this, the convolutions involving the "F" word have been torturing me for years. As a half-Serbian who never forgets injustice (Roman Catholic, but I search the Orthodox for wisdom) total forgiveness came instantly for me while praying for my ex-MIL after her recent death. I didn't need forgiveness for her, it was her son. If a rosary for her repose was the impetus, it makes sense, but the forgiveness hurdle it jumped was never even remotely conquered in the last 26 years. I don't trust my hidden intentions, so I've considered every possible good and bad aspect of what happened. My sister tries to picture 'enemies' as children. I'll consider the onion method the next time (or if this rears it's head again). It had to be spiritual...though trying for decades, I never came close before this.

[Carpe Cerevisi]

You’re so very welcome.