Meditation Wrong Measures
Meditation…
Wrong Measures¹
In strength and weakness, and in victory and defeat
A few days ago we celebrated the Feast of the Cross, and before it the Feast of the Martyrs. And from both feasts we come out with a beautiful meaning about strength, with measures other than what people know…
Which was stronger: the crucified Christ, or the Jews who crucified Him?
The Lord Christ was insulted and beaten, and they hung Him on a wood. But He was strong in His crucifixion, able to conquer sin and Satan. And He was stronger than His crucifiers, who were overcome by the sins of injustice, vain glory, cruelty, false testimony… etc.
Which was stronger: Cain or Abel? Cain was able to throw Abel to the ground and kill him. Yet Cain was not strong! He was overcome by the sins of envy, cruelty, and hatred… But Abel, the one killed, was much more exalted…
A person often thinks he is victorious, and boasts of that in arrogance and self-admiration. Yet in reality he is defeated: defeated by himself, unable to overcome his desires, and defeated by other sins, and by his wrong measures through which he imagines victory where defeat exists…!!
And the one who strikes you on your right cheek so you turn to him the other: does he think he has defeated you?! No, his anger and rage have defeated him, and he fell by striking you. Likewise the one who insults you and humiliates you. Poor is he who thinks he is stronger than you! His tongue and his heart have defeated him…
Every human in the world can get angry, insult, and assault others. But the strong person is the one who can control his tongue or endure.
The one who endures is the stronger. Therefore the Apostle said: “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak” (Rom 15:1).
Does Herod think he was stronger than John the Baptist because he presented John’s head on a platter? No, without doubt. The one killed was stronger. And Herod continued to fear John even after his killing. And when Christ appeared, Herod thought that He was John risen from the dead…
How strange are people’s measures! They think there is strength where weakness exists! And victory where defeat exists… Wrong measures…
Triumph, my brother, over yourself. For one who conquers himself is better than one who conquers a city.
An article by His Grace Bishop Shenouda, Bishop of Education – Al-Keraza Magazine, First Year – Issue Eight – October 1965
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