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

380- Wednesday or Tuesday!

 

St-Takla.org Image: A painter's hand drawing the face of Jesus Christ - by Amgad Wadea صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: يد فنان رسام ترسم وجه يسوع السيد المسيح - رسم أمجد وديع

On the eve of Sunday proceeding the Great Lent, I was listening to the psalm chanted in the church, "And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasures” (Ps. 17.14).

I asked myself why the psalmist has talked about filling the belly with the hidden treasures of the Lord and why the church has chosen this verse to be chanted few hours before fasting. I remembered what happened more than forty years ago when I was a university student.

A friend of mine was knocking at the door. As I opened, he asked me if I had lunch. It was the midyear holiday. My mother traveled and I was in Alexandria alone. I answered, “I don’t remember but I don’t feel hungry.” As we were talking, I mentioned that it was Tuesday but he said that it was Wednesday.

I remembered then that I began to draw the picture of Lord Jesus Christ on cloth and coloring it on Tuesday morning. It was the first time for me to draw on cloth and color. I was taken in that and spent Tuesday staying till Wednesday evening without sleeping or eating. I thought then that it was still Tuesday.

I then cried to my Savior,

+ My love to a new hobby made me forget the need of the body for a while,

And forget about time completely.

What will happen then when You reveal to me Your hidden treasures?

I shall then be lifted up to You,

Forget all about time and my belly will be filled with Your hidden treasures.

St-Takla.org Image: Tuesday (week day) name in Arabic and English صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: كلمة يوم الثلاثاء من أيام الأسبوع، باللغة العربية والإنجليزية

+ Truly, my continuous hunger is the proof of my weakness,

And my urgent need for inner satisfaction.

+ Grant me during this fasting,

Not to seek the time of eating,

Yet, let Your Holy Spirit kindle my depth,

For my soul to yearn for being filling with Your righteousness,

And my belly be filled with Your hidden treasures.

Your giving-life sacraments fill all human beings.

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: الأربعاء أم الثلاثاء.

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