📚 Scripture Readings: Genesis 4:8-15 | Isaiah 5:7-16
🛠️ The Ladder of Divine Ascent – Step 9: Remembrance of Wrongs
The Poison We Drink Expecting Another to Die
There is an old saying: “Holding onto resentment is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.” This is the essence of remembrance of wrongs, the focus of Step 9 in The Ladder of Divine Ascent. When we cling to past offenses, rehearsing them in our minds, we are the ones who suffer. Our souls are trapped, unable to move forward, weighed down by bitterness.
The Count of Monte Cristo stands as one of the most iconic tales of revenge in literature. At its heart is Edmond Dantès, a man unjustly imprisoned who dedicates years of his life to methodically dismantling the lives of those who betrayed him. Readers are captivated by the precision and brilliance of his plan, watching as he delivers justice with devastating impact. Yet, amid the allure of his vengeance, one crucial aspect of the story is often overlooked. Though Edmond succeeds in his quest for retribution, he discovers that revenge neither heals his wounds nor quiets his soul. Instead, it leaves him hollow, consumed by the very hatred that once fueled him. True peace comes not from exacting punishment but from relinquishing the burden of anger. It is only when Edmond releases his hatred and chooses forgiveness that he is finally free—not just from his enemies, but from the chains of his own bitterness.
This is the lesson Cain refused to learn. Instead of mastering his anger, he let it fester into hatred. When his offering was rejected while Abel’s was accepted, Cain could have asked God what he needed to change. Instead, he let envy, resentment, and unrepented rage push him into the first murder in history.
These stories reveal the soul-killing effects of clinging to past offenses. They also show us a better way—the way of forgiveness and release, the way of freedom in Christ.
Holding onto resentment is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.
Step 9 of The Ladder of Divine Ascent: The Remembrance of Wrongs
St. John Climacus minces no words when speaking of the remembrance of wrongs:
“Remembrance of wrongs is the consummation of anger, the keeper of sins, hatred of righteousness, ruin of virtues, poison of the soul, worm of the mind, shame of prayer, stopping of supplication, estrangement of love, a nail stuck in the soul.”
This is a terrifying description! Holding onto wrongs poisons everything: our peace, our relationships, even our prayers.
St. John teaches that forgiveness is not optional—it is a necessity for salvation. He echoes Christ’s words:
“If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
When we refuse to forgive, we shut the door to God’s mercy. We become like the servant in Jesus’ parable who was forgiven a great debt but refused to forgive his fellow servant’s small one (Matthew 18:21-35).
So what is the cure? St. John gives us a simple but profound answer:
“You will know that you have completely freed yourself of this rot when you pray for your enemy from the heart.”
Praying for those who have wronged us—not out of obligation but from the heart—is the sign that resentment has lost its hold on us.
This is easier said than done, which is why today’s Scriptures give us both a warning (Cain’s fate) and a promise (Isaiah’s vision of God’s purification).
Genesis 4:8-15 – Cain’s Curse: The Restless Wanderer
Cain’s story is a case study in the dangers of resentment.
After God accepts Abel’s offering but rejects his, Cain burns with anger. But God offers him a way out:
“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:7)
Cain refuses. Instead of mastering his anger, he lets it master him. He kills his brother and is condemned to a life of wandering, cut off from the presence of God.
This is what resentment does: it leaves us restless, empty, and distant from God. How many people today live in this condition—trapped in past wounds, unable to move forward, filled with bitterness?
In Charles Dickens’ great novel Great Expectations, we see what clinging tightly to bitterness can do. Miss Havisham is abandoned on her wedding day. She freezes time, wearing her tattered dress for decades, stewing in resentment. Her pain warps her, and she raises her adopted daughter to be as bitter as she is. The result? More suffering, more brokenness.
Cain’s punishment is not arbitrary—it is the natural consequence of a heart consumed by hatred. The person who cannot forgive carries their prison with them wherever they go.
But today’s reading from Isaiah offers hope.
Isaiah 5:7-16 – The Lord’s Vineyard and the Path to Healing
Isaiah 5 tells the parable of a vineyard—a symbol of God’s people. The Lord plants and tends it with care, but instead of good fruit, it produces wild grapes—bitterness, injustice, and unrighteousness. Because of this, judgment is coming.
This is a striking image: just as Cain’s heart grew wild with sin, so does Israel’s. Instead of trusting in God’s mercy and producing fruits of righteousness, they let injustice and corruption take root.
But Isaiah’s prophecy doesn’t end in despair. God will purify His people, and those who turn to Him will be restored.
The same is true for us. We don’t have to be like Cain. We don’t have to be like the vineyard producing wild grapes. We can choose forgiveness. We can choose freedom.
Practical Steps to Overcome Remembrance of Wrongs
- Pray for those who have hurt you. Even if it feels impossible, start small: “Lord, bless them.” This simple act softens the heart over time.
- Confess resentment as a sin. Holding onto grudges is spiritually deadly—bring it to confession and ask for God’s help in letting go.
- Reflect on how much you’ve been forgiven. Christ forgave us far more than anyone has ever wronged us. Meditate on His mercy.
- Break the cycle of replaying offenses. Every time you catch yourself rehashing an old hurt, replace it with a prayer or a psalm.
- Seek reconciliation when possible. If it is within your power, make peace with those you are at odds with (Romans 12:18).
Reflection Questions
- Do I hold onto past offenses? How has this affected my heart, my peace, and my relationship with God?
- Am I willing to start praying for those who have wronged me? What is holding me back?
- What practical steps can I take this week to let go of a remembered wrong and embrace Christ’s peace?
Final Thought: Choose Freedom, Not Chains
At every moment, we stand at a crossroad: We can cling to resentment like Cain, allowing it to master us, or we can release it to Christ, who alone can heal our wounds.
St. John Climacus tells us:
“The remembrance of wrongs is an obstacle to prayer. Do not let the sun go down on your anger, but rather go to great lengths to be reconciled.”
Forgiveness is not weakness—it is the greatest strength. It frees us, even more than those we forgive.
So today, let us ask for the grace to let go of past wrongs and walk in the freedom of Christ.
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