You shall love your neighbor as yourself. – Matthew 22
It is always a challenge whenever we encounter someone who acts in a blatantly wicked way. We know that there is something terribly wrong and yet, the sense of our own guilt hinders us from being too quick to judge. For aren’t we all wicked also in many ways? Aren’t we all struggling to overcome our inner shadows?
On the other hand, merely tolerating such wickedness puts us at a no better place. For when was it ever right to consent to what is wrong?
When we encounter someone who acts wickedly, let us try to treat him as we treat ourselves. In the first place, we shouldn’t condemn ourselves when we make mistakes. There is no hope in that, neither is there any good in it. God Himself does not condemn us, why would we condemn ourselves?
On the other hand, we must not excuse ourselves or ever justify the evil we have done. Evil is always destructive, and if we allow it to reign over us, we would eventually destroy ourselves as well.
Let us do then what God would have us do. Let us seek forgiveness and let us forgive ourselves, casting our hopes not upon our human frailties but upon the infinite mercy of God. At the same time, let us cast away all evil, not tolerating the smallest sin we see, knowing that God is holy, and only the pure can ever see Him face to face.
“With love for mankind and hatred of sins.” – St. Augustine
The thing about hope is that it’s a positive force that shines the most when it’s dark. When everything’s going well, we hardly notice it’s there. But when things go against us, when our dreams fade and when we see no immediate reprieve from our troubles, that’s when hope does its best work for us.
"Where Hope Can Be Found"