“Do not hate the sinner. Hate his passions and pray for him.”

 

In the desert of Egypt there once lived an Elder Monk, very strict with himself and very silent.

People said that he had a great gift from God, because he never judged anyone.

One day they brought before him a young Monk who had fallen into a serious sin.

The other fathers were angry.

- “We must judge him,” they said.

- “Come too, Abba, let us decide what will happen.”

The Elder did not answer.

He only got up, took an old sack, filled it with sand and put it on his shoulder.

But the sack had a small hole, so the sand fell behind him onto the road.

 

The Monks looked at him in amazement.

When they reached the place of judgment, they asked him:

- “What does this mean, Abba?”

And then he said:

-“My sins fall behind me like sand, and I do not see them.

But I have come today to judge the mistakes of my brother.”

Silence fell.

No one spoke again about punishment.

They only wept, embraced the young Monk and prayed with him.

This story remained in the tradition of the Church for centuries, because it reveals something very profound:

The man who truly sees his soul loses the need to condemn others.

And whoever truly approaches Christ becomes more merciful, not more cruel.

As Saint Isaac the Syrian said:

“Do not hate the sinner. Hate his passions and pray for him.”