Sene 27 — July 04

Ananias, the Helper of Saint Paul

Today we remember a kind man named Ananias. He was a teacher in a city called Damascus, and the other apostles chose him to be the bishop there: a church leader who takes care of God's people.

Ananias went from place to place, telling everyone the good news about Jesus. He taught many people to love God, and he baptized them, welcoming them into God's family with holy water.

One day God gave Ananias a very special job. A man named Paul could not see, for his eyes had gone dark. God sent Ananias to help. Ananias gently laid his hand on Paul's eyes, and Paul could see again! After that, Paul became one of the greatest teachers about Jesus in the whole world. So many people, near and far, came to love God because Ananias was brave and did what God asked.

Later, some people did not want Ananias to keep teaching about Jesus, and they hurt him. He stayed faithful to God right to the end. He was not afraid, because he knew he was going home to be with God forever.

God sent Ananias to help Paul, and when he laid his hand on Paul's eyes, Paul could see again.

Saint Thomas and His Wonderful Whip of String

Saint Thomas came from a town called Sandalat. When he was just eleven years old, he worked as a swineherd, looking after pigs in the fields. One night, while he was asleep, the angel Michael came to him and told him to go and bravely tell people that he loved Jesus.

So Thomas got up and took only one little thing with him: a whip made of string. He walked all the way to the great city of Alexandria to tell everyone about Jesus.

The city's leader did not like this and was unkind to Thomas. But God watched over him. Thomas prayed, and again and again God sent His angel to heal him and keep him safe. One day a worried jailer asked Thomas to help his sick boy. Thomas gave him the little whip of string and told him to lay it on the child.

The jailer did just that, and his son got well right away. God did so much good through Thomas. Once, a mother whose son was blind asked for help, and through Thomas the boy could see again. People were amazed and shouted that Jesus is the true God. A gentle lioness even came up to Thomas and softly licked his feet instead of hurting him.

Many brave friends stood with Thomas, like Saint Babnuda and Saint Moses, and they cheered one another on to stay strong. In the end Thomas stayed faithful to Jesus to the very last, and he received a shining crown of joy in heaven. Thousands of people who loved God were remembered with him on this day.

Lay this upon your son, and by the might of God he shall recover right away.— Saint Thomas to the jailer

More Friends of God We Remember Today

On this day we also remember a group of twenty-four brave people who loved God, and two faithful friends named Mamas and Silas.

We remember Lazarus the beggar too. He was a very poor man in one of Jesus' own stories in the Bible. Lazarus had nothing on earth, but he trusted God. When he died, the angels carried him to a happy place to be with God forever. His story reminds us that God sees and cares for everyone, especially those who have very little. You can find it in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 16.