“Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse” (Romans 12:14).

          1 After he taught them how they should behave among themselves, and after he tightly united the members, he thus leads them to proper dealings outside the church, making it easier, through dealing within the church. Because just as someone who does not succeed in meeting the needs of his relatives will find it difficult to fulfill his obligations towards strangers, so he who has trained himself well in these matters will find it easy to fulfill his obligations towards strangers as well. That is why Saint Paul comes forward little by little, mentioning these after that, and saying: “Bless those who persecute you.” He did not say do not forget the abuse, nor did he say to fight them, but rather he asked for much more than all of this. Because this is certainly an attribute of a wise person, while this is more an attribute of an angelic person. After he said: “Bless,” he added, “And do not curse,” so that we do not do this and that, but rather we do one thing: we bless and do not curse. Especially since those who persecute us are the reason for our reward. But if you are alert, you will prepare another reward for yourself, through that. Because he will give you a reward through persecution, while you will give yourself a reward by blessing him, showing a great, very great amount of your love for Christ. The one who curses the persecutor does not feel joy because he suffered for Christ, but the one who is blessed is the one who shows his great love for Christ.

          So, do not offend the one who is cursing you, so that you yourself may gain a great reward, and let him know that the matter depends on your desire, and is not considered an obligation. It is a celebration and celebration, not a calamity, nor distress. That is why Christ, to whom be glory, also said: “Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you for my sake.” [1]. That is why the apostles returned rejoicing, not because they were insulted, but because they were scourged. Because in addition to the above, you will gain another great reward, which is to make your enemies bewildered and astonished, and to teach them by deeds that you are moving toward another life. Because if he saw you rejoicing and jumping for joy, why would he offend you? He will know very well that you have another hope that is greater than the hope in present matters. Because if you do not do this, but cry and moan, how will he know that you are waiting for another life? But in addition to this, you will achieve something else. Because if he sees that you are not troubled by insults, but are blessed, he will stop persecuting you. Then notice how many advantages come from this. The reward will become greater for you, the temptation will become less, and he (the one who is persecuting) will stop his persecution, and God will be glorified, and your faith will become a teaching about those who live in deception. That is why He commanded us to do good, not only to those who insult us, but also to those who mistreat us, through deeds.

“Rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep” (Romans 12:15).

          So because it is possible to be blessed and not cursed, because of love, He wants us to be completely on fire with love. That is why he added, “Rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep,” so that we are not only blessed, but also participate in the sadness and suffering, if we see people in calamity at some point. But we participate in those who cry over their sorrows, this is correct, but on the other hand, if Was it not considered important? This means that rejoicing with those who rejoice requires a wise soul more than crying with those who weep. Because this (i.e., crying with those who weep) is certainly dictated by nature itself, and no one is as rigid as a rock, so as not to cry with those who face disaster, but he (i.e., who rejoices with those who rejoice) needs a very generous soul, so that not only must we not We envy someone who is in a state of ease and prosperity, and even rejoice with him. Therefore, this was mentioned first, “rejoicing with those who rejoice.” Because there is nothing that strengthens love to such a great extent, except to share among ourselves in joy and sadness.

          Therefore, you should not remain (frozen in emotions) because you yourself are far from calamities, and do not need compassion. Because when something bad happens to your neighbor, you owe it to him to share his pain. So, share in crying, in order to alleviate sadness, share in joy, in order to enable rejoicing, establish love, and so that you can benefit yourself from whomever you share, because by crying you make yourself participate in sadness, while by sharing in joy, you completely purify it from envy and jealousy. Please notice that the Apostle Paul never felt bored or bored. Because he did not say, you must prevent the disaster, so as not to say that this is impossible, but he recommended what is easier, he recommended what is within your power to do. Because if you cannot remove the disaster, then cry, and in this way you will have erased the greater part, and if you cannot yet increase the happiness, then rejoice, and in this way you will greatly increase the joy.

          For this reason, he advises not only not to be envious, but he advises much more than this, namely, to rejoice with him. Because this is considered much greater than not having envy.

2  “Have the same concern for one another, not setting your mind for high things, but giving directions to the lowly” (Romans 12:16).

          Once again great attention is paid to humility, from where he began his talk. Especially since it was natural for these people to have a transcendent thought, due to their presence in the city, and for many other reasons. Therefore, it permanently undermines this disease and reduces its flame. Because there is nothing that divides the body of the church so much, except boasting. What is the meaning of “have the same concern for one another”? Has a poor person come to your house? Let your concern for him remain one, and do not become more puffed up because of wealth. There is no rich and poor in Christ. Do not reject him because of his outward appearance, but accept him because of his inner faith. When you see someone groaning, you consider him unworthy of your consolation. When you see a person in prosperity and joy, do not be ashamed to share his joy. Rather, you rejoice with him and show him the same concern that you have for yourself. Because he says: “Have the same concern for one another.” For example, do you think you are great? So let you have the same thought towards the other. Do you assume that the other is humble and simple? So have the same opinion about yourself, and keep away from yourself everything related to inequality.

          But how could this happen? This is achieved if you stay away from bragging. That is why he added: “Not concerned with worldly matters, but led by the humble.” That is, to descend to the level of their lowly status, to comply with their condition, and to mingle with them. Do not only be humble in thought, but you must help and give generously, not only to others but to yourself, like a father who cares for his son, as the head of the body, which is what he said in another place: “Remember those who are in chains as if you were chained with them.” [2]. But by the humble here he does not mean only the submissive, but also the humble and the marginalized. “Do not be wise within yourselves.” That is, do not think that you are self-sufficient. Because the Bible says elsewhere, “Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own eyes.” [3]. Thus, it undermines pride, eliminates puffiness, and extinguishes their flame. For there is nothing that can be provoked, or cut off from fellowship, but the belief that one is self-sufficient. That is why God created us with a need for each other. So if you are yet wise, you will have need of another, but if you think that you are not needy, then you have become more foolish, and more weak than all. Because such a person will deprive himself of help, and in the matters in which he commits sin, he will not enjoy any reform or any forgiveness, but rather he will arouse the wrath of God with his boasting, and he will commit many sins.

          Because it is possible that many times the wisest person also does not know well what is right, and the most foolish person behaves with some integrity, which is what happened with Moses and his father-in-law, and in the case of Saul and his servant or servant, and with Isaac and Rebekah. So do not imagine that you are insignificant, because if you feel the need of another. The need for the other elevates you even more, makes you stronger, brighter, and more stable.

“Repay no one evil for evil” (Romans 12:17).

          Because if you convict someone else who conspires against you, who made you responsible for the conviction? If he did evil, why don't you avoid imitating him? Notice how he does not make a distinction here, but rather defines a common or general law. Because he did not say, “Do not repay the believer for evil.” Rather, he said, “Do not recompense anyone,” whether he is a Gentile, an unclean person, or anything else.

“Be careful to do what is right in the sight of all people. If it is possible and according to your ability, be at peace with all people” (Romans 12:18).

This means, “Let your light so shine before men.” [4] So that we do not live for vain glory, but rather so that we do not give an opportunity to those who desire to find a reason to attack us. That is why he said in another place: “Be without offense to the Jews and to the Greeks and to the Church of God.” [5]. He correctly said: “If it is possible.” Because there are situations that are not possible, when the word is about piety, when the struggle is for those who are oppressed or who are being wronged. And while you doubt, if this is not possible for other human beings, while He was able to find a solution even to the need between man and woman, saying: “But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart.” [6]. What he says means the following: that you give all your abilities, but do not give the Gentile or the Jew a justification for disputes and quarrels, but if you ever see that piety is being harmed, do not prefer affection to the truth, but rather you must stand firm nobly until death, and even in this case you must not fight with the soul. Not to change your mind, but to fight with actions only. Because this is the meaning of “to the best of your ability, be peaceable with all people.” If the other does not call for peace, you should not fill yourself with pain, but rather be loving in terms of thought, which is what I mentioned before, without ever breaking your covenant in terms of truth.

3  “Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to anger. For it is written, “Vengeance is mine to repay,” says the Lord” (Romans 12:19).

          What anger is he talking about? About God's wrath. So because the anger he desires retreats to give place to the wrath of God. Because what Q. says. Paul, if the one who was wronged does not take revenge, God will be the one who punishes. Then allow God to punish, and since the Apostle Paul convinced the oppressed person to accept that as a principle, he asks of him what is most, namely faith, saying:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. Because if you do this, you will gather coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:20-21).

          Here he wonders, should my relationships be peaceful? Especially when he gives a commandment of benevolence. Because he says feed him and give him water. Then, because he had ordered something exaggeratedly large and laborious, he added: “Because if you do this, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” He said these things, with the aim of deterring the enemy with fear, and to make the benefactor give out of the desire to give in the hope of receiving reward. The Apostle Paul knew that the oppressed person is not pleased with the good things he receives when he feels weak before the one who wronged him, and he feels relieved when the oppressor is punished and suffers, so nothing pleases him more than seeing his enemy being punished. Therefore, the Apostle Paul, with his wisdom, presented this first, and after the poison stopped, he began to advise what is higher, saying: “Do not be overcome by evil.” Because he knew that the enemy, even if he was still a predatory monster, did not remain an enemy when you fed him. Even if the oppressed person is thousands of times small in soul, when you feed him and give him water, he will not desire the enemy’s punishment after he feeds him. Therefore, since the Messenger has confidence in the outcome of this matter, he not only threatens, but also expresses the severity of the punishment. Because he did not say, “You will punish your enemy.” Rather, he said, “We will gather coals of fire on his head.” Then the victor appeals, saying: “Do not be overcome by evil. Rather, overcome evil with good.” In a calm manner, he means that we should not be led into the desire for evil, because if we do not forget the offense yet, this is considered a defeat from evil.

          But he did not indicate this at the beginning, but after extracting anger from the oppressed, he then added: “Overcome evil with good,” because this is also victory. Likewise, not when he puts himself down and receives blows, but when he stands upright and makes his opponent unleash his strength into the air. Thus, he will not receive blows and the opponent's strength will be useless. This is exactly what happens with insults. So when you insult, you are defeated not by a human being, but by the bitter slavery of anger, which is extremely shameful. But if you remain silent, you will also have been victorious, erecting monuments of victory without getting tired, and you will have countless numbers of those who crown you and condemn the lie of insult. Because the one who opposes is clearly opposing because he is hurt or insulted, while the one who is insulted makes it possible to think, because he knows the statements well. So if you take the insult lightly, the judgment against you will be invalidated. And if you want to get clear evidence of everything that was said, ask the enemy himself: Who gets annoyed more? Is it you when you get angry and return the insult, or the other person when he is insulted and you underestimate the insult? And this is what you will hear. He is not happy when he is not insulted, as much as he is upset because he cannot insult you.

          Don't you see those who get angry, how, without saying much about their strikes, they attack with great haste, striving with determination, and worse than wild pigs, to cause injury in the near future, to achieve what they want without being careful about the possibility of being injured? So when you deprive him of doing what he desires, you deprive him of everything, as long as you despised him and made him appear lowly, more of a child than a man, and thus you were considered wise, while he was surrounded by the reputation of an evil monster. Let us do this regarding strikes. When we want to strike, we must not strike back. Rather, if you want to strike him with the final blow, turn the other cheek to him, and you will inflict countless injuries on him. Because for him, those who applaud and admire you are more dangerous than those who kill by stoning. Before these, his conscience will condemn him, and will condemn him to great punishments, as if he had been afflicted with the worst kind of evil, and so when he is ashamed he must depart. But if you seek glory from many, you will also enjoy this glory to a great extent. Because in any case, we have compassion for those who suffer, but when we see them not striking back, and not only that, but also giving themselves up, then we not only have compassion for them, but we admire them.

          4 For this reason, I feel that I want to cry out loud, because we are the ones who can obtain the goods of the present world, and obtain the goods of the age to come, if we listen to the laws of Christ as we should. We lose both because we do not submit to everything that has been said, and we philosophize everything in a way Excessive. Especially since (i.e. Christ) established a law for everything according to our benefit, and He teaches what makes us glorious, and what makes us characterized by obscenity. He would not have ordered this (i.e. to respond to abuse with kindness) if he was aiming to make his disciples a subject of ridicule. But He commanded this behavior because they became more glorious when they practiced it, that is, when they did not backbite, when they were accused, when they were not insulted, when they were mistreated. But if this makes them more glorified than any other behavior, much more so will the good words they say when they are accused, when they are cursed, they will be glorified, when they are cursed, they will be blessed, and when they do good when they suffer pain. Therefore, he codified all these matters. He also cares a lot about his students, because he knows very well what makes a person lowly and what makes him great. So if God cares about you and knows everything, why do you quarrel with your enemy and want to take another path? The victory that comes through mistreatment is related to the laws of Satan.

          However, this law does not apply in competitions administered by Christ. Rather, it is quite the opposite. Christ’s law crowns the defeated, not the winner. Because this is the nature of the arena of Christ's competitions: everything in it is evaluated in reverse, so that the miracle becomes greater, not only by the victory, but by the manner of victory. When the factors that lead to defeat are in a place, he presents them as a reason for victory, then this is the power of God, this is the arena of heaven, this is the stage of angels. I know you're hotter now, softer than wax, but when you leave here, you'll throw everything away. That is why I feel sad and upset, because we show words in deeds, especially when we intend to gain here what is most great. Because if we show compassion, we will not be defeated in front of everyone, and there will be no human being, whether young or old, who can harm us. So, if someone speaks bad things about you, he will not harm you at all, but rather he will harm himself severely, and if he is unjust, the harm will surround the one who committed the injustice. Don't you see what's happening in the courts? We find that the oppressed are more radiant, and stand up and speak boldly and with a free mouth, while those who have been oppressed speak with their heads bowed down in shame and fear.

          Why do I talk about bad words and injustice? Because even if he is still drawing his sword against you, and even if he is still plunging his right hand into your neck, he has not harmed you at all, while he has slaughtered himself. The first to be killed by brotherly hand will confirm these words [7]. Because the one (i.e., Abel) went to the quiet port, after gaining eternal glory, while the other (i.e., Cain) lived a life more miserable than all death. He was groaning and trembling, and pinned the accusation of murder upon himself. [8]. So we should not strive towards this (i.e. injustice and bad speech), but towards that (i.e. charity). Because whoever suffers pain, evil does not always occupy his home, and of course he did not create it himself, but rather after he receives it from another, he makes it into something good with his patience, while he who did wrong has the source of evil. Wasn't Joseph in prison, while the whore who did evil to him was in a famous and famous house? So which one do you want to be? We no longer refer to compensation, but rather examine these events in themselves. This is how you would rather be in prison with Joseph, thousands of times, than be at home with the prostitute. Because in truth, if you look at the souls of both of them, you will see that Joseph’s soul exists in comfort and great boldness, while the Egyptian’s soul exists in distress and shame, in frowning, confusion, and extreme sadness. But it seems that this woman has won, but what happened is not a victory.

          Knowing these things, let us prepare ourselves to bear abuse, so that we may be freed from ill-treatment, and obtain the blessings of the coming age, which I wish we could all enjoy, through the grace and love of mankind that belong to our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom befits Him, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, glory forever and ever, Amen.

[1] Matthew 11:5.

[2] Hebrews 3:13.

[3] Isaiah 21:5.

[4] Matthew 16:5.

[5] 1 Corinthians 10:32.

[6] 1 Corinthians 7:15.

[7] It refers to Abel, who was killed by Cain's brothers (Genesis 4:8).

[8] Genesis 7:39-23.