Psychologists, philosophers and priests are united in their attitude to insults. One must learn to forgive people in order to maintain their inner peace and harmony. The gospel teaches us not to judge and not to be angry, even those who are in a quarrel with their neighbors are not allowed to participate in communion. Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount explained in detail what is fraught with revenge on the annoying. Carrying out plans of retaliation, a person loses peace, longs for justice, in the heart black fog swirls in anger, all domestic affairs fade into the background.
Without letting go of the feeling of resentment, without forgiving the enemy, the person seems to agree with the role of the victim, with the injustice that the adversary inflicted. On the contrary, reading prayers of resentment, purifying one’s heart, becomes a winner, rises above the situation.
Why forgive?
There is a paradox in the Word of God:
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who offend you (Luke 6: 27-28)
The most difficult commandment is to love enemies. It is not clear why, why should we forgive? Revenge is unacceptable, if only because, responding with evil to an insult, we become like the offender, we fall to his level. But what about injustice?
The remarkable writer Vasily Shukshin in his story perfectly reflected the feelings of the undeservedly offended. A certain Sashka faced the rudeness of the saleswoman in the store, they lied to him in front of a little daughter. Unable to bear resentment, the hero grabbed a hammer, intending to take revenge. The murder did not happen only by a happy coincidence. Because of a couple of offensive words, a person in a fit of anger is ready to destroy lives: his, his victims, children and relatives of both families.
It would seem, what do we care about idle conversations? If stories are gossiping about us and we can make fun of these people, because we are not to blame. But no - anger rises in the soul, a person has a desire to prove that people are mistaken. Often in a radical way. Therefore, it is so important to learn to forgive so as not to give rise to even greater cruelty.
If you can’t calm down and forgive, God will help. There are several prayers for resentment:
Prayer to the Savior
My savior, teach me to forgive from the bottom of my heart all who have offended me with anything. I know that I can’t stand before You with the feelings of hostility that lurk in my soul. My heart hardened! There is no love in me! Help me, Lord! I pray to you, teach me to forgive those who offend me, as you yourself, my God, have forgiven your enemies on the Cross!
If you do not hold evil, and the attacks do not stop, you need to ask for the softening of evil hearts in front of the icon of the Virgin.
Prayer for forgiveness
Soften our evil hearts, Mother of God, and repel the attacks of those who hate us, and allow all our heartbreaks, for, looking at Your holy image, with Your compassion and mercy towards us, we heartily lament and kiss your wounds, about our arrows that torment You, horrified. Do not allow us, the Merciful Mother, to perish in our cruelty or from the cruelty of our neighbors, for You are truly a softening of evil hearts.
It must be remembered that God is love. Therefore, anyone who addresses him with hope will surely get what he wants.