Miyazya 26 — May 04

Saint Susenyos, the Brave Soldier

Today we remember a brave man named Susenyos (say it: soo-SEN-yos). His father was a friend of a powerful ruler who did not love God. But God had a special plan for Susenyos.

One day an angel of the Lord came to Susenyos and made his heart strong and full of courage. Susenyos wanted to belong to God. So he found a priest, learned all about Jesus, and was baptized, washed with water to show that he now belonged to God.

The ruler was angry that Susenyos loved Jesus, and wicked men tried to hurt him in many ways. But every single time, the angel of the Lord came back, healed him, and made him strong and well again. God took such good care of him!

Susenyos was never afraid, because he knew that God was with him and that one day he would go home to heaven. He kept loving Jesus right to the very end, even when it cost him his life. That is what makes him a martyr. Many other people watched how brave Susenyos was, and they came to love Jesus too. What a strong and faithful friend of God he was!

An angel of the Lord came to Susenyos, made his heart strong, and healed him every time he was hurt.

John, the Carpenter's Son

Next we remember a boy named John, who lived in a faraway city called Nineveh. His mother loved God very much. For a long time she had no children, so she prayed and prayed. At last God gave her a son, and she named him John.

John's father carved little statues out of wood for people who did not yet know the true God. When John was about eight years old, just your age, he helped his father with the carving. But one day an angel of the Lord met John and taught him the truth: there is only one God, who made the sky and the earth and everything in it.

After that, John knew exactly what he believed. He told his father bravely:

There is no god but God, the Maker of the heavens and the earth. I will not worship things that people make with their hands.— Saint John of Nineveh

John's Courage and His Father's New Heart

John's father was upset that his son would not worship the wooden statues. Even the people of the city came and asked, "Little boy, why won't you keep your father's old ways?" But John stood firm and said again that he would only worship the one true God.

John loved Jesus so much that he stayed faithful no matter what, and he became a martyr. His good mother held him close and gave him gently back to God, like a precious gift. She prayed, "O my Lord Jesus Christ, receive this offering from me."

But the story does not end in sadness. It ends with hope! John's father had been very lost and troubled. His kind mother kept praying for him at John's grave, never giving up. And God answered. The father's heart was set free, he came to believe in Jesus, and he was baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God's love healed the whole family. John is remembered as a bright little lamp who pushed away the darkness with his shining faith.

Four More Faithful Friends of God

On this same day we also remember four more brave friends of God: Sebbidoras, Abba Serga, Dereys, and Says. We do not know many stories about them, but we know they loved Jesus and stayed faithful to Him. We thank God for all of them, and we ask them to pray for us.