3. Remember ??? Last week’s story? Memory verse? He had found one pearl of great price (Matthew 13:46) The perfect pearl = ??
4. Obey = follow the “GOOD” leader What is the meaning of the word obey? To say YES to what we are told to do. Without complaining Without arguing Who should we obey? Mom and dad Older family member Your teacher Abona Who do all these people obey? Our Lord Jesus Christ
5. John the Short Once there was a short man = John Everybody called him John the Short When he was 18 years old – he went to the monastery to become a monk. What is a monk?
6. Monk 3 Vows: 1. Poverty 2. Chastity 3. Obedience : Like any soldier who does not know all the secrets of the war and has to obey for his own safety and victory, the monk also obeys the leaders and the experienced elders.
7. If you want to learn more about monks! Old Cairo- Egypt The Monastery of St. Macarius the Great
8. A New Monk in the Wilderness The Abbot (leader of the monks) refused him because he was still young, but he was accepted at last. He became a disciple to one of the monks in the wilderness of Scetis.
9. YES SIR! The abbot wanted to test John’s ability to obey so he said: “ John, take this dry stick and plant it” John looked at the Abbot and said: “Alright my father” John took the stick and did as he was told
10. The Heavy Load St. John the Short watered the stick 2x/day The water well was very far away from where the stick was planted. St. John had to carry the heavy vessel on his shoulders for a long distance back and forth . But St. John the Short obeyed and did that 2 times every day.
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12. Dry Stick Green Tree After some days, the stick started to become green Branches began to grow Green leaves Sweet fruit appeared! St. John went to tell the Abbot of what happened.
13. The Fruit of Obedience The picked some of the fruits off of the tree and brought it back to the monastery for the monks to taste. The Abbot gathered all the monks and said to them: “My sons this is the fruit of obedience”
14. Pop Quiz 1. What is the name of this Saint? St. John the Short 2. Why did he go to the wilderness? To become a monk 3. Who tested St. John? How? The Abbot asked St. John to plant a dry stick in the sand and water it 2x/ day 4. Why? He wanted to test St. John and see if he would obey. 5. What happened to the stick? He wrote it on a tablet 6. What was the name of the fruit? - The Fruit of Obedience
15. Conclusion Obey your parents One of the ten commandments Our Lord Jesus Christ honored and loves his mother St. Maryand respected St. Joseph who took care of him. You will receive a blessing from God!!!
16. ترنيمة كان فيه عنقود عنب * كان فيه عنقود عنب طلع فى غير اوانه خده راهب من الرهبان وداه لرئيس الدير * شكره رئيس الدير مكاريوس الكبير فكر يديه لراهب تعبان و سنه كبير * راح قاله انت تفوز إنت راهب عجوز والخير اللى بيجي نديه للي يعوز * أخده الراهب خجلان وقاله هو كمان معقول أنا إللي آكله واخويا يبات جعان؟! * فضل العنقود دا كتير يلف بدون تفكير وأخيرا رجع تاني لمكاريوس الكبير * قام القديس فى الحال جمع الرهبان وقال ها احكيلكم على حكاية إنما عال العال * انا شايف المحبة بتزيد حبه حبه ودليلي الأكيد: آدي عنقود المحبة * يارب أنت النور انت الله المحبة والشمعة لما تنور ضوئها ما يستخبى
17. The Bunch of Grapes 4- The old monk thought it's better To give it to another. All of them did the same, They gave it to each other. 5- The bunch came back to the saintly St. Marcarios who quickly Gathered all his monks To tell them of the story 6- He showed the bunch of grapes, A fruit so sweet to the taste, Because it stands for love, The love that never fails. 7- True love grows and grows, Like candle light it spreads, We pray the Lord it stays Kindled in our hearts 1- A purple bunch of grapes, Red, black or green grapes, What color could it be That sweetest bunch of grapes? 2- It grew out of season, A monk said I have reason To present it to the senior My dearest Abbot Macarios. 3- He took it and he thanked Then gave it to a monk And said, "He better get it, He's very weak and old."
