302- A Preacher Giving up his Seat

A preacher got on the bus and was seated. The bus driver was talking with a passenger who insisted on riding the bus and standing since there was no seat for him.

“Please get off ‘cause there isn’t a seat for you and the law forbids that a passenger would stand up in the bus.”

“I can’t as my wife and children are on the second floor of the bus and they don’t have the fare.”

“The law doesn’t allow me to drive unless all passengers are seated.”

Both of them insisted on what they said. Therefore, the bus was late. Then, the preacher stood and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, You see: the driver is subject to the law and the passenger to an old law, that of the family. In order not to violate any of them, I decided to leave my seat to this passenger. I just want to say that I’m now repaying my Savior Jesus what He did for me. As He saw the human carriage had stopped being not able to move and reach the Father’s bosom, He gave me His seat and took mine. He took me as if in a heavenly carriage to the Father’s bosom. Moreover, he descended to the Cross and went down to hell after accepting to die physically in my stead.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: خادم كلمة يتنازل عن كرسيه.

You took what is mine and gave me what is Yours.

What did I have save death!

You took our body and died,

Not because You sinned,

But for Your love to me.

On the other hand, what is Yours?

The extreme everlasting glory.

You gave it to me.

Great is Your love O Wonderful Lord.

God’s desire for granting us His blessings

Is even more than our desire for taking them.

(St. Makarius the great).

The savage Tribes Ruler

Short Stories (Stories for the Youth) Books by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty

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