The Way of Peace: Shunning Suspicion and Offense

69. Shun all suspicions and all persons that cause you to take offence. If you are offended by anything, whether intended or unintended, you do not know the way of peace, which through love brings the lovers of divine knowledge to the knowledge of God.

St. Maximus the Confessor Four Hundred Centuries on Love: #69

In the communal life of faith, maintaining peace is paramount. Maximus the Confessor warns us to shun all suspicions and the individuals who cause us to take offense. To harbor offense, whether it is intentional or unintentional, is to stray from the path of peace—a path that love illuminates and leads us to divine knowledge.

Picture a serene garden, where every plant thrives in harmony. Suspicions and offenses are like invasive weeds that threaten this harmony. When we allow these weeds to take root, they choke out the flourishing plants of peace and love, distorting our vision and disrupting our spiritual growth.

To truly walk the way of peace, we must cultivate a heart that resists offense. This means approaching each situation and person with a mindset of love and understanding, seeing beyond immediate actions to the divine image within every individual. By doing so, we nurture an environment where divine knowledge can blossom.

When we shun suspicions and offenses, we align ourselves with the essence of God’s love, creating a fertile ground for spiritual growth. This path of peace is not just about avoiding conflict but about actively seeking harmony and unity within our community and ourselves.