Desert Wisdom: Forgiveness

Text of a desert Abba.

A brother in the Skete had made a mistake, and the ancients met in assembly. They also had Abba ask Moses to join them. But he didn’t want to come. The priest then sent him a message: Come, the community of brothers is waiting for you.

Then Abba Moses got up to go to them. He took a very old basket full of holes, filled it with sand and held it behind his back.

The old ones came running out and said: What is that, father? The old man replied: With myself sins flow out behind my back and I do not see them, and then must I come here to judge the sins of another?

When they heard this, they said nothing more to the brother, but forgave him.