Miyazya 3 — April 11

Saint John, the Bishop of Jerusalem

Saint John grew up in a family that loved the old laws God gave to Moses. His parents were teachers, and John learned so well that he became very wise.

When he was grown, John talked with Christians about God. He listened carefully, and little by little his heart became sure: Jesus Christ truly came into the world, and Jesus is truly God. So John was baptized. Later he became a deacon, a helper in church, and then a bishop, a leader who takes care of God's people in the city of Jerusalem.

In those days Jerusalem was a hard place to follow Jesus. Some people did not want the Christians to go and pray at the holy hill where Jesus died and rose again. They even tried to stop them. They were unkind to good Bishop John and treated him badly because he kept loving Jesus.

Through all of it, John stayed faithful. He prayed and asked God to bring him home. After two years of caring for his people, John died in peace, going home to be with the God he loved.

Salutation to John, the persecuted, the son of Mary.

Abba Michael, the Gentle Archbishop

Abba Michael wanted, more than anything, to live like the angels. So he went to a quiet desert place called Scete, where he gave his days to prayer. He stayed there until he was an old man, and he led many other monks kindly and well.

When the old archbishop of the great city of Alexandria died, the church needed a new leader to watch over its many churches. For months the bishops and priests prayed and searched for the right person. At last they chose three good monks, wrote each name on a little paper, sealed it, and laid the papers on the holy altar.

Everyone prayed for three days and three nights, asking God to choose a good shepherd for them. Then they called a small child and asked him to pick one paper. The child reached out and picked the paper with Abba Michael's name! Everyone knew God had chosen him, and they all cheered, "He is worthy! He is worthy!"

Abba Michael led the people gently and helped them turn away from doing wrong. He did not care about fancy food or riches. Instead, he visited people who were poor, gave them what they needed, and used whatever was left to build churches. He led for only a short time before God called him home in peace.

Take out for us one paper, and the boy chose the name of Abba Michael — so all knew that God had picked him.

Marke, Who Sent His Gold to Jesus

Marke was a Christian from the city of Antioch. He had a good friend named Guespar who did not yet know Jesus. The two friends agreed about almost everything, except about God.

One day the friends set out on a long trip across the desert. Marke was rich and carried thirty heavy pounds of gold on a black mule. But on the road, Marke became very sick. Feeling that he would soon go home to God, he wrote a little letter: he wanted to give all his gold to Jesus, as a thank-you for God's love and forgiveness.

Marke asked his friend Guespar to keep a promise: "When I am gone, take this gold and give it to my Lord Jesus." Guespar was puzzled. "How can I give gold to Jesus, who is in heaven?" he asked. Marke smiled and said, "Take it to a church, and give it to the priest there."

When Marke's gentle soul went home to God, something beautiful happened: bright angels and singing saints came to greet him, and the Holy Spirit, like a soft white dove, circled close. Then God sent two lions, who lovingly buried Marke. Guespar watched it all in wonder.

Guespar carried the gold to the church, just as he had promised. That night he saw a great light, and the Lord Jesus came in glory with two angels. An angel said, "Come and worship. This is Jesus, the Son of God." Guespar bowed low, gave Jesus the letter, and said, "I believe in You, my Lord Jesus!" After that night, Guespar and all seventy-five people in his house were baptized and came to love Jesus too.

I have believed in Thee, my Lord Jesus Christ.— Guespar