blames himself

Introduction and central idea
His Holiness Pope Shenouda speaks about the necessity that a person always blames himself instead of justifying his mistakes or judging others harshly.
About bias and double standards
He explains that our weakness is bias toward ourselves: we have a scale that softens for our deeds, and for others a strict scale that judges and condemns them.
True humility and self-blame
He calls for deep humility that makes a person assume himself the cause of every insult or distress, so he blames himself quickly and without presumption to feel spiritual healing.
The eye, the plank, and love
He refers to Christ’s teaching about the plank in our eye: when we remove the plank of pride and lack of love we can see our brother with love and patience instead of resentment and accusation.
Accepting spiritual medicine and the friend of truth
He urges accepting words of rebuke as medicine given by a loving brother, and that the one who reveals our faults with utmost love is our dearest friend.
Anger and its spiritual effects
He explains that anger if not treated turns into hatred and enmity and prevents us from receiving communion because a loving heart is the condition for true communion.
Trial and divine correction
He sees that insults and afflictions may be a divine remedy to reveal inner faults, so we should not blame the one who rebukes us but examine ourselves and repent.
Ethic of forgiveness and spiritual joy
He affirms Christ’s command: if we do not forgive people, God’s forgiveness is withheld from us, and the Christian is required to present the holy kiss from a pure forgiving heart.