Post-feast of the Transfiguration. Holy Confessor Emilian, Bishop of Cyzicus (815).
Dormition Fast.
2 Corinthians 7:1-10. Mark 1:29-35.
Read 2 Corinthians 7:1-10
St. Paul rejoices because through his first letter, the Corinthians “were grieved into repenting” (2 Cor. 7:9). There is such thing as a “godly grief” which “produces repentance that leads to salvation and brings no regret, but worldly grief produces death” (2 Cor. 7:10). Of course, Paul wasn’t happy that he made them grieve, but he was happy that their grief motivated them to repentance.
Have you ever received criticism which hurt to hear? Maybe your boss, a friend, or a family member made a comment to you about something you could be doing better, and your first instinct was to be offended by it. Sometimes it is hard to take correction. Our pride gets hurt. We want others to think highly of us, and so some of us have the tendency to take correction to heart. However, we should not be like the fools who would say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised correction! I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me!” (Prov. 5:12-13). Elsewhere in the book of Proverbs, we read: “The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but He loves him who follows righteousness. Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, and he who hates correction will die” (Prov. 15:9-10). And still elsewhere: “Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid” (Prov. 12:1).
Let us pray for humility, for the willingness to hear the truth even when it hurts to hear it. When we hear a truth which will help us grow in holiness and righteousness, let us not hesitate to have the courage to make the necessary changes to our lives and habits.