The Guilt of Sin

A woman once visited a holy man with repentance in their heart.

“We have done wrong,” they said, “and our consciences are troubled. Can you tell us what we must do to wash away our guilt?”

Tell me about your wrongdoings, my sons,” said the holy man.

The first man said, “I have committed a great and grievous sin.”

“What about you?” the holy man asked the second.

“Oh,” said he, “I have done quite a number of wrong things, but they are all quite small, and not at all important.”

The holy man thought for a while and said at last. “Each of you must go and bring me a stone for each of his misdeeds.”

After some time, the first came back with an enormous boulder and with a groan, he put it beside the feet of the holy man. Then came the second, cheerfully carrying a bag of small pebbles. He also put it beside the feet of the saint.

“Now,” said the holy man, “take all those stones and put them back where you found them.”

The first man shouldered his rock again and staggered back to the place from where he had brought it. But the second man could only remember where a few of his pebbles had lain. After some time, he came back and said that the task was too difficult.

Then, the wise man counselled them as follows: