Yekatit 4 — February 11

Agabus, the Helper Who Could See Ahead

Agabus (say it: AG-a-bus) was one of Jesus' helpers. Jesus once chose seventy-two friends and sent them out to tell people the good news about God, and Agabus was one of them. He was also with the twelve apostles in an upstairs room in the city of Zion, on the day the Holy Spirit came to them. The Holy Spirit is God Himself, who lives in our hearts and fills us with courage and love.

God gave Agabus a special gift. Sometimes he knew things that were going to happen before they happened, and we call that the gift of prophecy.

One day Agabus took the belt of his friend, the apostle Paul. He wrapped it around his own feet and spoke God's message out loud. One day, he said, Paul would be tied up in the city of Jerusalem. And later that is exactly what happened, just as Agabus had said.

Agabus traveled to many cities, teaching people about Jesus and showing them God's way. Many heard him and chose to love Jesus, and he baptized them, washing them with water to show that now they belonged to God.

Some people did not want Agabus to keep teaching, and they hurt him. He stayed faithful to God right to the end. Because he loved God enough to never give up, even when it cost him his life, we call him a martyr. After he died, a tall, shining pillar of light rose from him all the way up to heaven, and everyone could see it. A kind woman who was watching said, "This is a good man. God has made him shine!" She loved God too, and she was buried beside Agabus, two faithful friends together.

This is a good man, and God has made him shine.

Abba Zachariah, Who Saw the Gates of Heaven

Abba Zachariah (say it: za-ka-RYE-ah) was a holy man who gave his life to prayer. We call him Abba, a warm word that means father. He worked hard at being good and gentle, and he loved God with his whole heart, all his life long.

When Zachariah was very old and it was almost time for him to go home to God, his friend Abba Moses sat beside him. "What do you see?" Moses asked him softly. Zachariah smiled and said it was better for him to stay quiet, for what he saw was too lovely for any words.

At that very moment, another holy friend named Abba Isidore looked up and saw the sky open wide. And angels were singing! They called out a happy welcome to Zachariah, telling him that the gates of God's kingdom were swinging open just for him.

So Zachariah went peacefully home to heaven, with the angels cheering him in. What a joyful way to be welcomed by God! It reminds us that when we love God and try to be kind, heaven is waiting for us like a warm home with the lights on.

Rejoice, Zachariah, for the gates of the kingdom of heaven are opened for you!— the angels