Yekatit 9 — February 16

Abba Barsoma, the Son of Fasting

Before Barsoma (say it BAR-soh-mah) was even born, a holy man told his father, "A child will be born to you, and people all over the land of Syria will remember him." And that is just what happened.

When Barsoma grew up, he loved God so much that he went to live by a great river to pray. There he became a monk, giving his whole life to quiet prayer. People came from far away to learn from him, and God answered his prayers in ways that surprised everyone.

The water near his home tasted bitter, too bitter to drink. Barsoma prayed over it, and it turned sweet and fresh. Another time he and his friends were far from home as the sun was going down. Barsoma asked Jesus for help, and the sun stayed up in the sky until they were safely home.

Once a town went without rain, and the people were sad and thirsty. Barsoma told them, "If you trust in God, He will send rain." They said yes. He prayed, and down came the rain. The people were so glad that they learned to love God too.

Barsoma loved God his whole long life. When God was ready to bring him home, a tall pillar of bright light shone from his little house all the way up to heaven. Everyone who saw it knew that their kind father was now with God.

We call Barsoma "the son of fasting" because he loved to fast and pray. Fasting means going without some food for a while, so our hearts have more room to think about God.

If you will trust in God, He will send you an abundant rain.— Abba Barsoma

Saint Paul the Syrian

Paul came from a family of traders who lived far from home. When his parents died, they left him a lot of money and gold. Paul did something nobody expected. He gave it all away to people who were poor and hungry.

Then Paul prayed, "Dear Lord, please show me the path that pleases You." God sent His angel Suriel to be his friend and helper. The angel said, "God has told me to stay with you and make you strong. Do not be afraid."

Paul went and told everyone how much he loved Jesus, even when unkind rulers tried to make him stop. They wanted him to be afraid, but he was not. God's angel stayed close and took care of him, healing him again and again, like a doctor sent from heaven.

Once they even offered Paul a huge pile of gold to stop loving Jesus. Paul just smiled and said, "I already gave away my own gold because I love Christ. Why would I take yours?" Nothing could change his loving heart.

Paul stayed faithful right to the very end, and he gave his life rather than stop loving God. We call someone like that a martyr. Kind friends gently cared for his body, and many sick people grew well again when they remembered him. Paul was not afraid, because he knew he was going home to God.

God has commanded me to be with you, and to make you strong; do not be afraid.— Suriel the angel

Peter the Martyr

We remember one more brave friend of God today, named Peter. He loved Jesus with his whole heart and stayed faithful to the very end, just like Paul.

We thank God for Peter and for all the saints who were brave for Him. They show us that loving God is the most important thing of all.