Love shall cover the multitude of sins
A certain Syrian hermit brought the venerable Macarius a cluster of grapes.
Macarius lived in the spirit of Christian love, and he carried the grapes to a sick brother, who rejoiced greatly at such a token of love from the holy father and gave thanks to God. But he too cared for the good of his neighbour, and gave the grapes to another brother, who was minded in the same way, and so the grapes came to a fourth brother. In this manner the cluster of grapes went round the whole monastery and, passing from hand to hand, came back again to the venerable Macarius. And the soul of the venerable father was filled with joy at such a showing of love among the brethren one for another.
Abba Cassian related: Saint Germanus and I visited a certain elder in Egypt. When he had received us with great love, we asked: why is it that, when brethren from other lands visit you, you break the rule of fasting which with us in Palestine is kept so strictly? The elder answered us: the fast is always with me, but to be with you always is not possible. Though the fast is needful and necessary, it still depends upon one's own will, whereas the doing of the work of love the divine law requires without fail. When in your persons I receive Jesus Christ, I am bound to act with all diligence. And the broken rule of the fast, when I have seen you on your way, we shall afterwards make good, for “can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast” (Matt. 9:15).
Two brothers in the spirit went out from the monastery to sell their handiwork. When they were parted for a time, one of them, by the evil working of the devil, fell into fornication. When they met again and the younger proposed that they return to their cell, he answered that he would go there no more. His brother asked the reason, and in answer heard: when I was parted from thee, I fell into fornication, and therefore I do not wish to come.
The other brother showed forth true Christian love. Wishing to turn his brother back to the truth, he said to him: when I went away from thee, the same thing befell me also. Now then, let us both return and with repentance entreat the Lord to forgive us. I believe in His love for mankind: He “Who took upon Himself the sins of all the world” is ready to receive the penitent and will forgive us our sins.
Thus he brought that brother also to repentance, and they returned to their monastery. They confessed to their spiritual father what had befallen them and received a rule of penance. The one brother repented of the other's sin as though he had sinned himself, and fervently besought God to forgive him. So he laid down his soul for the love of his brother. Soon the prayer of both was fulfilled, and they received: the one, forgiveness of sins, and the other, a crown for divine love.
