400- He Is Better Than you Are

 

St-Takla.org Image: The Great Pope Shenouda the third, Pope of Alexandria and the See of Saint Mark (1971-2012) صورة في موقع الأنبا تكلا: قدس البابا شنوده الثالث بابا الإسكندرية وبطريرك الكرازة المرقسية (ر. 1971-2012)

On May 1997 in Los Angeles, Pope Shenouda told the following story:

One of the monks has fasted without food for three weeks. He was very happy spiritually being in the company of the Lord Jesus. One day he saw another monk that became very weak after only one day of fasting. Thoughts of condemnation attacked the monk who fasted for three weeks because that poor monk could not do it for one day. An angel appeared to that monk and said to him, “He is better than you are. You fasted three weeks because God’s grace helped you through but this poor monk struggles with all his heart to fast that day.”

→ English translation of the story here at St-Takla.org: أنه أفضل منك!

It is true that the excellence of the power is from Your grace,

To support my brothers and me.

I thank You for caring about us all.

I should not underestimate him, who can do less,

And those who do more than me should not discourage me.

Thank You Pantocrator who works in all of us.

A Gift from Australia

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

I Decided to Leave the Monastery: Departure without saying Goodbye