Jesus said to his disciples : "To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak, do not withhold even your tunic.
Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back.
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.
If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit (is) that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount.
But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as (also) your Father is merciful.
Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you."

Gospel commentary

Saint Vincent de Paul (1581-1660), priest, founder of religious communities
Conference to the Daughters of Charity, 18 January 1648

From what I understand, Daughter, you believe that if we are reprimanded unjustly about some fault, it would be more appropriate to suffer the correction without saying anything than to justify ourselves. Yes indeed! I certainly share your sentiment and I believe, so long as the silence is not sinful or wounding to a neighbor's interests, it is a good deal better to observe it like that. It is to imitate our Lord. How many people attacked him, criticized his life, vilified his doctrine and spewed out horrible blasphemies against his person! Yet he was never seen to excuse himself. He was led to Pilate and to Herod yet he said nothing to clear himself and, in the end, allowed himself to be crucified. There is nothing better than to imitate the example he has given us.

My dear Sisters, on this subject I will tell you that I have never seen anything disadvantageous happen to anyone for not excusing themselves — never! It is not for us to give explanations; if someone blames us for what we have not done, it is not for us to defend ourselves. God wishes us, my daughters, to leave to Him the discernment of things. He will know how to manifest the truth at the opportune time. If you only knew how good it is to abandon all these cares to Him! Ah yes, my daughters, never take it upon yourselves to justify yourselves! God sees what people are making us bear and He no doubt allows it in order to test our faithfulness. He knows how you take it, the profit you draw from it or the bad use you make of it. And if He permits you to remain burdened for the time being, oh! how well He knows how to bring the truth to light later. It is a true and infallible saying, daughters, that God always justifies those who will not justify themselves.