Father Zossima had already noticed in the crowd two glowing eyes fixed upon him. An exhausted, consumptive-looking, though young, peasant woman was gazing at him in silence. Her eyes besought him, but she seemed afraid to approach.

 “What is it, my child?”

“Absolve my soul, Father,” she articulated softly and slowly, sank on her knees and bowed down at his feet. “I have sinned, Father. I am afraid of my sin.”

The elder sat down on the lower step. The woman crept closer to him, still on her knees.

“I am a widow these three years,” she began in a half-whisper, with a sort of shudder. “I had a hard life with my husband. He was an old man. He used to beat me cruelly. He lay ill; I thought looking at him, if he were to get well, if he were to get up again, what then? And then the thought came to me—”

“Stay!” said the elder, and he put his ear close to her lips.

The woman went on in a low whisper, so that it was almost impossible to catch anything. She had soon done.

“Three years ago?” asked the elder.

“Three years. At first I didn’t think about it, but now I’ve begun to be ill, and the thought never leaves me.”

 “Have you come from far?”

 “Over three hundred miles away.”

 “Have you told it in confession?”

 “I have confessed it. Twice I have confessed it.”

 “Have you been admitted to Communion?”

 “Yes. But I am afraid. I am afraid to die.”

“Fear nothing and never be afraid; and don’t fret. If only your penitence fail not, God will forgive all. There is no sin, and there can be no sin on all the earth, which the Lord will not forgive to the truly repentant! Man cannot commit a sin so great as to exhaust the infinite love of God. Can there be a sin that would exceed the love of God?

Think only of repentance, continual repentance, but dismiss fear altogether. Believe that God loves you as you cannot conceive; that he loves you with your sin, in your sin. It has been said of old that over one repentant sinner there is more joy in heaven than over ten righteous men.

“Now go, and fear not. Be not bitter against men. Be not angry if you are wronged. Forgive the dead man in your heart what wrong he did you. Be reconciled with him in truth. If you are penitent, you love. And if you love, you are of God. All things are atoned for, all things are saved by love.

If I, a sinner even as you are, am tender with you and have pity on you, how much more will God. Love is such a priceless treasure that you can redeem the whole world by it, and expiate not only your own sins but the sins of others.”

from The Brothers Karamazov in our free ebook The Gospel in Dostoyevsky.

 

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Your Turn. Tell us what you thought about this article:

Responses

Sher Mohammad from Pakistan
Fyodor Dostoevesky deserves warm regard and gratitude for conveying the force and drive of "love" in saving many a people suffering from wrongs done to them. Islam highlights mans cruelty to man. The real enimy comprises the cursed "Satan". He had vowed to drive most of the mankind to hell. Also, when Adam and his spouse were ordained to descend on earth, they were warned of enmity among some of their offspring, which explains why their elder son killed the younger one. Turning towards God in repentance leads towards salvation and service to mankind. As for the Satan, God promised to Adam and Eve that for all, repeat all, promptings of Satan would be forgiven by God on showing penitence and sincere repentance. Look at some of the Jews as slayers of their prophets. Such is Satans prompting and his enmity towards mankind.

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Gordon from North Carolina
If we believe, then, through his love all things are possible.

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Doris Tan from Singapore
You have spoken the height, the depth of His Love. I have the chance of forgiving my stepfather, and had cried bitterly at his funeral for not giving him the chance of hearing that he was forgiven. I have made my reconcilation there and then, but the pain of such memory is always with me. There is an aunt whom had done much harm in my early age (3-6) remained a shadow in my life, I can't really remember all the incidents but this shadow is present. I have never met her again, and never wish to see her again. I am an abandon child (by birth). Thanks be to Him who has risen me from so many death. My parents (unknown)left me abandoned, He, who is Love covers me and keeps me and embraces me everyday......

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Summer Schmidt
.....Legalism is a trap I think many Christians fall into because it is a way we can control our walk with the Lord and our lives, it is our way of putting God in a box. Fortunately for us people who love to be in control (such as myself!), the Gracious Lord doesn't allow us to have control over our lives. He leads us by His Holy Spirit, not by our whims or desires. We are to live by the Spirit, not by the letter of the Law as legalism fails to realize. Ask the Lord for help in your struggle. He is struggling alongside you every step of the way! Ask Him to help you accept His forgiveness and move on with your life. I was in bondage to legalism for several years, and I know all to well that "knot" that you have in the pit of your stomach all the time!! With His help, you will absolutely be able to overcome this. I have! Please know that Jesus died and has set you free of this bondage. Often, however, as Christians we are like birds in a cage. Jesus came and opened the door to the cage, but we are quivering inside in fear of freedom-- of the wide open, the unknown. Take the leap, trust Him, and experience true freedom in Christ! Your life will never be the same.

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Naderah Shaw from Guyana
Committing wrong things does not go unpaid for in this world. If one is not punished in their young days then that punishment will return to you in old age. You'll feel the pangs of the sin you committed. The old saying goes like this: "Once a man twice a child." When old age struck you -- you're like a child again. If one does wrong they should repent sincerely -- if they do that God will accept your repentance. Love can move mountains -- with a little love and affection one can make the angriest person becomes the most loving.

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Teri Osler from Canada
I too have difficulty letting go of the past. I fear that my confessions are not sincere, that my sin is always there. I repeat the same offences over and over again. I try to manipulate my world to suit me instead of letting God handle things. I too am afraid. I feel a knot in my stomach constantly. My biggest fear/sin is that I am afraid if I give over to God, He will send something to me or my family that will be tragic. Isn't that just terrible of me? How can I stop?