There was once a very popular priest. Due to his virtue & his skillful
delivering of sermons, his church was always full.
There happened to be a thief among his congregation. This guy would steal every
once in while a during service. Everytime he was caught, the priest would counsel
him & then ask the congregation to forgive him.
This went on for a while until the congregation got sick of this thief. On one
particular day, a church leader, representing the congregation, issued an ultimatum
to the priest. Either he expels the thief or the entire congregation would leave.
The priest answered, "Then all of you, please leave". He then explained
to the shocked crowd, "All of you know that stealing is wrong, but he doesn't.
If I don't teach him, who will? This man needs my guidance and my love more
than any one of you. If I have to lose all of you to keep him, let this be the
case".
The thief was so touched by this that he started to cry. From that day on, he
never stole again.