Sene 13 — June 20

Saint John, the Bishop Who Learned to Give Again

Long ago there was a holy man named John. When he was young, he went to live in a monastery, a quiet home where people pray together. He prayed there and worked hard to love God, and everyone could see how good and wise he was.

Because John was so wise, the church leaders chose him to be a bishop, a shepherd who takes care of many churches. He became the Bishop of Jerusalem, a very special city.

But then something sad happened. John began to love money too much. He gathered lots of silver and made shiny silver dishes to eat from. He stopped sharing with people who were poor and hungry, and he forgot how good it feels to give.

John had a dear old friend named Epiphanius, who loved him very much. When Epiphanius heard that John had forgotten to share, his heart was sad for his friend, so he made a gentle plan to help him.

Epiphanius kindly borrowed John's beautiful silver dishes. Then he sold them and gave all the money to people who were poor and hungry. When John asked for his dishes back, Epiphanius told him what he had really done with them.

John was surprised. But slowly he understood. It was as if he woke up from a long sleep. He remembered how much he loved God, and he started giving again, more than anyone. He gave away all his money, and even his clothes, to help others.

God was so pleased that He gave John a special gift. When John prayed and gently anointed sick people with holy oil, God made them well. John helped many, many people, and at the end of his life he was happy and kind and had no money left at all. He had given every bit of it away.

From that time John woke up, like a man waking from sleep, and walked happily in the path of giving and kindness.

The Feast of Gabriel the Archangel

Today we also celebrate a happy feast for Gabriel, one of God's great archangels. An archangel is a very important angel. Gabriel is a messenger who carries good news from God.

Long ago, Gabriel came to a man named Daniel while he was praying. He told him good news: that God's people would go home again, and that one day the Savior, Jesus, would come to the world.

And when the time finally came, it was Gabriel who flew to a young girl named Mary. He brought her the best news of all. She would be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. That is why we love this kind angel and ask him to pray for us.

Gabriel stands close to God's throne in heaven. We thank God for this gentle messenger and ask him to pray for us, so that we, too, may be near to God.

Gabriel came from God and told Mary the joyful news that Jesus, the Son of the Living God, would come to her.

Cainan, Who Lived a Very Long Time

We also remember a man from long, long ago named Cainan. He lived for many hundreds of years. People remembered him as part of God's family from the early days of the world.

We thank God for the people of old who lived before us. They remind us that every life is a gift from God, no matter how long or short it may be.

Brave Friends Who Loved God

We also remember some brave friends of God: a man named 'Abulag, two hundred other faithful people, and a good father named Matyan.

These friends loved God so much that they stayed faithful to Him even when it was very hard, and some of them gave their whole lives for Him. We call such brave people martyrs.

They were not afraid, because they knew God was holding them and that they were going home to be with Him forever. We thank God for their courage, and we ask them to pray for us, too.