Ginbot 21 — May 29

Our Lady Mary Appears in Shining Light

Today is a very happy feast! Christians everywhere remember the day our holy Lady, the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus, appeared to her people. It happened at a church built just for her, in a place called Debre Mitmak.

Mary was seated on light, inside a circle of glowing brightness. All around her stood the angels and the archangels, the highest angels of all. Their wings spread out over her like a soft, gentle roof. Other angels called Seraphim swung sweet-smelling smoke, the way we use incense in church, and they bowed and sang to her.

Then the saints came to greet her, one after another. Brave saints who loved God rode up and bowed before her, and she smiled and blessed them. The prophets came too. Long ago they had told everyone that Jesus would come, and now they bowed and gave thanks.

Something tender happened next. If someone missed a loved one who had died, a mother, a father, a friend, they could ask Mary, and she gently let them see that dear person again, looking just as they remembered. The little children whom God keeps safe in heaven came skipping and hugging each other for joy.

Everyone who watched felt so happy that they thought they were already in heaven. Mary stayed with them for five whole days. When it was time to go home, the people bowed, and she blessed them with her own fingers. What a day to thank God for His mother, Mary, who loves us and prays for us.

God the Father looked down from heaven upon earth and He found none like unto thee.— the angels' song to Mary

Abba Martianus, Who Loved God With All His Heart

Abba Martianus was a young man who chose a quiet life of prayer. He learned from a wise, holy elder, and then he went to live at a monastery, a peaceful home where people pray to God together.

For many, many years Martianus prayed every day and night. He wanted to keep his heart pure and close to God, and he worked hard to be good and kind. People all around heard how holy he was.

One day a woman tried to trick him into doing something wrong. Martianus loved God so much that he would not give in. Gently, he helped her see that being kind and good was far better than doing wrong. Her heart turned all the way around. She went to live with other women who loved God, and she became holy too. Later God even let her help sick people get well.

Martianus liked to live where it was very quiet, so nothing would pull him away from God. Once he needed to cross a wide river, and God sent a great creature up out of the water that lifted him and carried him safely to the other side. God was always watching over him.

Martianus walked through many lands, always praying. When he grew old, he told a kind bishop the story of his whole life, and then God called him home to heaven. The bishop loved him and gave him a beautiful, honoring burial.

Abba Aaron the Syrian and the Helpful Lion

Abba Aaron came from a faraway land called Syria. From the time he was young, he loved God and tried hard to do what was right. God gave him a special gift. When he prayed, sick people got better.

Abba Aaron was kind to visitors. Some traveling monks came to see him, and he cooked little doves for their supper. But the monks said, "We do not eat meat." So Aaron said a blessing over the doves, and right then they came alive and flew away into the sky. The monks could hardly believe their eyes.

Aaron built a monastery on a mountain, but the water was far down below. He prayed and made a sign with his hand, and the water rose up the mountain so the monks could drink. God answered his prayer.

An evil spirit once tried to bother Aaron, but Aaron was not afraid, because God is always stronger than anything bad. With God's help, he sent the evil spirit away for good.

Here is the best part. God sent Aaron a friendly lion to help him. The big lion carried jars of water on his back for ten whole years, bringing water to the monastery. After a long life of prayer and helping others, Abba Aaron went home to God.

Salutation to Aaron, who made the little doves fly away.

Amos the Prophet and Mardali

We remember Amos the prophet on this day too. A prophet is a friend of God who carries God's words to the people, and Amos reminded everyone to be fair, to be kind to the poor, and to keep their hearts close to God. His brave words are still in the Bible for us to read.

Mardali is honored today as well. We thank God for all His holy friends, and we ask them to pray for us.