Meskerem 13 — September 23

Saint Basil and the Young Man Who Came Back to God

Today we remember something beautiful that God did through Saint Basil. He was a bishop, a leader who watched over God's churches, in a city called Caesarea (say it: SESS-uh-ree-uh). Saint Basil loved God very much, and he prayed hard for people who were in trouble.

There was a young man who worked for a rich master. The young man made a very sad mistake. He listened to a bad man and turned away from Jesus, hoping to get something he wanted. Right away he felt scared and lonely inside, because he had let go of the One who loved him most.

Soon the young man was sorry, and a kind girl who loved him was sorry too. Together they ran to Saint Basil and cried, "Please help us!" Saint Basil was not angry. He smiled gently and said, "Be of good cheer, and fear not."

Saint Basil made the holy sign of the Cross over the young man and gave him a quiet room to pray in. Every few days the saint brought him bread and water and prayed with him. The young man was afraid, because troubling thoughts came to him. But Saint Basil kept saying, "Do not be afraid. God will help you and keep you safe." And God did! For forty days they prayed, and God's love grew stronger than any fear.

At last Saint Basil called all the monks and priests, and all the people of the city. They lifted their hands to heaven and prayed together, "Lord, have mercy upon us!" They prayed and prayed, and the old paper that had carried the young man's sad mistake simply fell down in front of everyone. It was gone! Saint Basil blessed the happy young man, and he and the girl went home rejoicing, thanking God for saving them.

This story teaches us something beautiful: no matter what mistake we make, God is always ready to welcome us back when we say we are sorry.

Be of good cheer, and fear not. God will help you and keep you safe.— Saint Basil

Lord, have mercy upon us!— the prayer of the whole city

Abba Isaac the Quiet Monk

We also remember Abba Isaac, who was an anchorite. That means he lived all alone in a quiet place so he could pray to God without ever stopping.

Abba Isaac loved Jesus with his whole heart. Even when unkind people tried to make him stop believing, he stayed faithful and brave, true to God right to the end. We call him a martyr for that. Abba Isaac was not afraid, because he knew he was going home to be with God forever.

We can ask this brave and gentle friend to pray for us, so that we, too, will love God with all our hearts.