Megabit 21 — March 30

A Special Day for Our Lady Mary

Today is a happy and important day! On Megabit 21, all over Ethiopia, the Church keeps a great feast for Our Lady, the holy Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus.

We call Mary the "two-fold Virgin." That special name means she was holy and pure all her life, both before Jesus was born and after. Out of all the women in the world, God chose her to be the mother of His Son. What a gift that was!

Mary loved God with her whole heart. She always said yes to God and trusted Him, even when she did not understand everything. That is why we love her and ask her to pray for us.

On this feast, people sing songs to Mary, bring flowers, and thank God for choosing such a gentle and faithful mother for Jesus. It is a day full of joy.

All generations shall call me blessed.— Luke 1:48

Jesus Visits His Friends in Bethany

On this day, our Lord Jesus went to a little town called Bethany. His good friends lived there: a man named Lazarus and his two sisters, Martha and Mary. (This Mary is a different friend, not Jesus' mother.)

Not long before, something wonderful had happened in that house. Lazarus had died, but Jesus had brought him back to life. So now Lazarus was sitting right there at the table, eating dinner with Jesus. Everyone was so glad.

Martha helped serve the food to all the guests. Her sister Mary did something very loving. She poured sweet-smelling oil, called perfume, on Jesus' feet, and wiped them gently with her hair. The whole house smelled lovely.

Some people thought she was wasting the perfume. But Jesus was pleased with her. He knew that soon He would suffer and die on the cross to save us all, and Mary's gift was getting Him ready for that. Jesus told them not to be upset with her, because she had done a beautiful thing for Him.

She hath anointed them for the day of my burial.— Matthew 26:12

People Believe Because of Lazarus

Because Jesus had brought Lazarus back to life, so many people heard about it and came to believe that Jesus truly came from God. Their hearts were filled with faith and joy.

Some important leaders were not happy about this. They wanted people to stop following Jesus, and they even thought about hurting Lazarus. But God was watching over His friends.

We do not need to be afraid for Lazarus. God is much stronger than anyone who tries to do wrong. The truth stayed true: Jesus has power even over death, and He gives new life to those who love Him.

Lamech, a Grandfather Long Ago

We also remember a man named Lamech, who lived a very, very long time ago, near the beginning of the Bible. Lamech was the son of Methuselah, and he lived a long and full life.

Lamech is special because he became the father of Noah. Yes, that Noah, the one who later built the big ark and kept the animals safe, two by two, when God sent the great flood.

So when we think of Lamech, we can remember that he was part of God's family plan. God takes care of every family, one grandfather and one father and one child at a time, all through the years.

Theodore and Timothy, Two Brave Friends of God

Last of all, we remember two holy men named Theodore and Timothy. They were so faithful to God that they gave their lives rather than turn away from Him.

Theodore and Timothy loved Jesus so much that they would not stop following Him, no matter what. Some unkind people tried to make them give up their faith, but the two friends stayed brave and true to God right to the very end.

They were not afraid, because they knew that God was with them and that they were going home to heaven to be with Him forever. Today we thank God for their courage, and we ask Theodore and Timothy to pray for us, so that we can be brave and faithful too.