Professing One Thing and Believing Another

When we get blamed for something or accused of doing or saying something we didn't do or say, how do we respond? Or, when our kindness gets taken for something else and we in turn get the cold shoulder, how do we react? St. Stephen turned to prayer and asked for the forgiveness of those stoning him. Are we like St. Stephen who remains committed only to the Truth and to love even until death, or do we profess one thing with our lips and believe another in our hearts? What we profess must be the same as what we believe. Let us ask God for the grace of humility and courage to reject all duplicity.