“A person who suffers bitterly when slighted or insulted should recognize from this that he still harbors the ancient serpent in his breast. If he quietly endures the insult or responds with great humility, he weakens the serpent and lessens its hold.”
— Symeon the New Theologian (949–1022)
Source: Symeon the New Theologian, The Practical and Theological Chapters, in Symeon the New Theologian, trans. Paul McGuckin (New York: Paulist Press, 1982), 70.
Reflection: Where might God be inviting me to respond to difficult or hurtful words with humility rather than defensiveness, and what practices help me cultivate that posture?