Miyazya 6 — April 14

Saint Mary of Egypt, Who Found a New Life in the Desert

Long ago in Egypt there lived a woman named Mary. When she was young she made many wrong choices and lived far away from God for a long time. But God never stopped loving her, and He was waiting to help her come home to Him.

One day Mary traveled to the holy city of Jerusalem. She wanted to go inside a church, but at the door she felt that something was gently stopping her. She looked up and saw a beautiful picture of Mary, the mother of Jesus. Her heart filled with sadness for her wrong choices, and she began to cry and to pray. She promised God that if He let her in, she would change her whole life and do whatever He asked.

A kind voice told her to go and live in the quiet desert near the Jordan River, where she would find peace. So Mary bought a little bread and walked into the desert. She lived there alone for many, many years, talking with God in prayer every day. When her bread ran out, she ate plants from the ground, and God took care of her.

A holy priest named Zosimas met her there and was amazed at how close to God she had become. He brought her Holy Communion, the special gift of Jesus' Body and Blood. When Mary died, God sent a gentle lion to keep watch beside her and to help dig her resting place. Mary's story teaches us that it is never too late to turn back to God.

If I can go in and celebrate the feast with all the other people, I will do everything You ask of me.— Saint Mary's prayer

Salutation to Mary, whose body was guarded by a lion in the desert.

Thomas Sees the Risen Jesus

On this day, eight days after Jesus rose from the dead, He came to visit Thomas, one of His twelve apostles, the closest helpers He had chosen.

Thomas had not yet seen Jesus alive again, and he found such news hard to believe. So Jesus came and showed Thomas His hands and His side, where He had been hurt on the cross. Jesus let Thomas come close and see for himself that He was truly alive.

When Thomas saw Jesus, his heart was filled with joy and faith, and he cried out the most beautiful words. Then Jesus gave a special blessing to all of us who would come later, people who would believe in Him with happy hearts even without seeing Him with their own eyes. That blessing is for you, too!

My Lord and my God!— Thomas, in John 20:28

Adam and Eve, the First Family

Today we also remember Adam and Eve, the very first people God made. First God made the sky, the earth, and the angels. Then He made Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed life into him. God loved Adam so much that He made him a king and a friend, and let him give names to all the animals and birds.

God saw that Adam should not be alone, so while Adam slept, God made Eve to be his wife and helper. God gave them a beautiful garden full of good fruit, and they were very happy there with God.

But one sad day they listened to a tricky voice instead of listening to God, and they ate the one fruit God had asked them not to eat. So they had to leave the lovely garden. Yet even then, God did not stop loving them. He made a wonderful promise: one day He Himself would come to save them and bring them home again.

That promise came true when Jesus, the Son of God, was born and saved the whole world. So the story of Adam and Eve, which began with a mistake, ends with the greatest gift of all: God's love that never gives up on us.

In the last days the Son of God shall come, and He shall be born of a virgin, and He will save us.— God's promise to Adam

The Birthdays of Noah and David

On this same day, two more of God's special friends were born long ago: Noah and King David.

Noah was the good man who trusted God and built a great big boat, called an ark, to keep his family and the animals safe. David was the brave shepherd boy who grew up to become a king, and who wrote many beautiful songs of praise to God. Both of them loved God with all their hearts, and we thank God for them today.