I would continue some remarks on the 10th Step on John’s Ladder, SLANDER. History tells us that one monk, the Elder Aimilianos, always walked away when someone began speaking about someone behind his back. St. John, however, suggests a much more confrontational response. He writes:   Do not allow human respect to get in your way when you hear someone slandering his neighbor. Instead, say this to him: “Brother, stop it! I do worse things every day, so how can I criticize him?” You accomplish two things when you say this. You heal yourself and you heal your neighbor with one bandage.

By gently pointing out the sin of slander, we not only spare ourselves from engaging in this sin, but we may also succeed in making the slanderer realize his error and bring the whole unpleasant conversation to an abrupt end.

Slander is a sure sign that we are not truly repentant. “If we are on the watch to see our own faults, we shall not see those of our neighbor.”

It is pride that blinds the truth. This is never more obvious than in the sin of gossip and slander. For often we consider the minor failings of our neighbor more worthy of anger and derision than our most grievous iniquities. It is not uncommon for someone who has committed sins of hatred, envy, violence, theft or sexual perversion to condemn another for simply being annoying, for boasting, smoking or swearing. If we were as outraged by our own sins as we are by the foibles of others, we would all be saved. We condemn minor faults in   others while we overlook our own grievous sins, not out of ignorance, but because we forget God; we think if we conceal our sins from one another, the sin is of no consequence.

This is great food for thought!