Vengeance
During Lent, I am reading the Desert Fathers. On occasion I will post sayings that strike me during my Lectio.
A brother who had been wronged by another brother came to see Abba Sisoes. He said to him, “My brother has hurt me and I want to avenge myself.”
The old man begged him, saying, “No, my child, leave vengeance to God.”
The brother said, “I shall not rest until I have avenged myself.”
The old man said, “Brother, let us pray.” Then he stood up and said, “God, we no longer need You to care for us, since we do justice for ourselves.”
When he heard these words, the brother prostrated himself before the old man’s feet and said, “I will not longer seek justice from my brother. Forgive me, abba.”