Tikimt 27 — November 06

Abba Macarius, the Bishop Who Loved the Truth

Today we remember a gentle, holy father named Abba Macarius. He was a bishop, a church leader who watches over many churches, in a city called Kaw. Abba Macarius loved God with his whole heart, and he kept God's rules every day.

Abba Macarius loved the Bible. He read it and thought about it morning and night. The Bible says a happy person is one who loves God's word and thinks about it day and night, and that was just like Abba Macarius.

He was also a kind teacher, and God worked through him to help many people. But sometimes, when Abba Macarius sat down to teach, tears would roll down his face. One of his students asked him, "Father, why are you always crying?" Abba Macarius answered softly that he felt sad when people forgot to do good. He loved everyone so much that he wanted them all to be close to God.

One day God told Abba Macarius something important: a good teacher should always remind people to be kind and to love God. So Abba Macarius taught and taught, and he never stopped caring for his people.

Blessed is the person whose joy is in the Law of God, and who thinks about that Law day and night.— Psalm 1

Abba Macarius Stays Brave for Jesus

One time, the leaders of the church had a big meeting to talk about Jesus. Abba Macarius went with another holy father named Abba Dioscorus. When Abba Macarius came to the meeting, his clothes were old and plain, and the guards almost did not let him in. But Abba Dioscorus said, "Let him in. He is a bishop!"

At the meeting, some people were saying things about Jesus that were not true. Abba Macarius knew the real truth: that Jesus is fully God and fully man, one Lord, never divided. Even though it was scary, he spoke up bravely and would not agree with anything that was wrong. He loved the truth about Jesus more than anything.

Because he would not change his mind, Abba Macarius was sent far away to an island, away from his home. But he was not afraid. He trusted God the whole time. Later, wicked rulers hurt him because he stayed faithful, and he died and went home to be with God forever. Someone who holds on to God like that, even when it costs them their life, is called a martyr.

Believers carefully carried Abba Macarius and laid him to rest near other great saints, just as God had once shown him in a dream. He had finished his work for God, and now he lives in joy with the Lord he loved.

I give myself to God for the true faith, and I will not be afraid.

A Happy Miracle of Healing

God showed how special Abba Macarius was through a joyful miracle. There was a woman, the wife of a governor, who was very sick with a skin sickness called leprosy that made her feel sad and sore.

When she gently touched the face of this holy man, God made her completely well again. Her skin was healed, and she was healthy and happy. Everyone could see that God was working through His kind servant Abba Macarius.

Paul of the Cell

Today we also remember a holy man called Paul of the Cell. A "cell" is a tiny, quiet little room where someone lives to pray.

Paul loved to be alone with God in his small room. He spent his days talking to God, praying, and growing close to Him. He showed us that we do not need big or fancy things to be near God. We just need a quiet heart that loves Him. We thank God for gentle Paul and his life of prayer.

Julianus and His Friends

We also remember a brave man named Julianus and his friends. They loved Jesus so much that they were willing to give up everything for Him. When the hardest day came, they held on to Him and became martyrs.

They were not afraid, because they knew God was holding them close and that they were going home to heaven. Today we say thank you to God for Julianus and his friends, who loved Jesus right to the end. We can ask them to pray for us too.