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Let Charity Dwell Within You

06 13 Cat And Dog

Introductory Note

Today, St. Ephrem closely links love and honor of God to love and honor of our neighbor, specifically in his admonitions not to be wrathful about perceived wrongs, but to live in peace and agreement with all our brothers and sisters.

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If you are angry against your neighbor, you are angry against God; and if you bear anger in your heart, against your Lord is your boldness uplifted. 

If in envy you rebuke, all your reproof is wicked. But if charity dwell in you, you have on earth no enemy. And if you are a true son of peace, you will stir up wrath in no man. 

If you are just and upright, you will not do wrong to your fellow. 

Satan is your adversary; if you desire to revile, then against the demons display your curses. 

If you revile a man, you revile the image of God. 

Do honor to your neighbor, and lo! you have honored God. But if you would dishonor Him, in wrath you assail your neighbor!

You have a spiritual nature; the soul is the image of the Creator; honor the image of God, by being in agreement with all men. 

Remember death, and be not angry, that your peace be not of constraint. As long as your life remains to you, cleanse your soul from wrath; for if it should go to Sheol with you, your road will be straight to Gehenna. 

Keep not anger in your heart; hold not fury in your soul; you have not power over your soul, save to do that which is good. 

You are bought with the blood of God; you are redeemed by the passion of Christ; for your sake He suffered death, that you might die to your sins. His face endured spitting, that you might not shrink from scorn. Vinegar and gall did He drink, that you might be set apart from wrath. He received stripes on His body, that you might not fear suffering. 

Endure scorn from your brother, that you may be the companion of Christ. Display not anger against man, that you be not set apart from your Redeemer.

If you are in truth His servant, fear your holy Lord; if you are His true disciple, walk in your Master’s footsteps.

Public domain, via newadvent.org.

Ephrem the Syrian
About the Author
Ephrem the Syrian

Ephrem the Syrian (306373) was a Syriac Christian deacon and a prolific Syriac-language hymnographer and theologian of the 4th century. He is especially beloved in the Syriac Orthodox Church, and counted as a Venerable Father in Eastern Orthodoxy. 

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