42 - Showing Hospitality: Abba Pishoi

In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God, Amen

Lesson No. ( 42 )

References 

 Sinaxarium - 8th Abib. 

Notes for Servants 

i The Lord chose Anba Pishoi in spite of his weak, slim body. This shows us that the Lord looks into the heart, not to the appearance of people. 

i Do you feel that the cross of the service is heavy and difficult to bear? Remember that He is always beside you, to strengthen you and give you power. 

Objectives 

General: Show hospitality to strangers. 

Specific: The children will be able to: 

1. Welcome any newcomers or visitors to our church; 
2. Show them hospitality and offer them all the help they need during their stay among us; C. Understand that showing hospitality to strangers is one of the Bible teachings. 

Bible Verse 

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers." 

(Hebrews 13:2) 

Teaching Aids 

None. 

Instruction 

(1) Review last week's lesson. 

(2) Who remembers the verse? 

(3) Remind the children about the church occasions for the coming week. 

(4) Give the students a brief idea about the monks and the monastic life as an introduction to the lesson. 

(5) Servant may explain that a demon may enter any Christian body when the person neglects his spiritual life and does not repent or receive communion. 

(6) Teacher should prepare the appropriate questions to emphasize the objectives during the lesson.

Story Time 

When he grew up, Anba Pishoiwent to the Wilderness ofSheheit, where he was ordained a monk. He practised a strict ascetic life and constantly worshipped the Lord. Two of the monks, who had heard about St. Pishoi's life, visited him and asked him to allow them to stay with him to learn from him and to be supported through Pishoi’s prayers so that they might deserve his holy blessings. St. Pishoi received them happily, as he loved all people. The two monks stayed with him for some time as he taught and guided them. Some days later, St. Pishoi desired to be alone to practise his ascetic life. He said to them, "Go to the wilderness of Upper Egypt and observe a solitary life there in the mountain." They obeyed him. Pishoi blessed them before they left for the place he had told them about. 

It happened that some robbers entered a cell of one of the brothers and took his possessions. There was an old monk in the monastery who claimed to have a divine power to see hidden things. The abbot (the head ofthe monks) called this monk and asked him to reveal to them who robbed the brother's cell. The old monk said, "The two monks who came here a few days ago." All the monks believed him and the abbot drove them out, suspecting that theywere the robbers. But Anba Pishoi, being inspired by the Spirit, knew that the two brothers were innocent. Anba Pishoi quickly went to the mountain, and there he said to the abbot, "I know these two brothers. They have never been accused of such a thing before." The abbot told him what the old monk had said. 

St. Pishoisaid, "Please, call the brothers to come here." The abbot did so and the old monk came with them. They bowed before Anba Pishoi and received his blessing. Anba Pishoi asked them, "What evil deed have these two strangers done?" The old monk said, "They stole the possessions of our brother." Anba Pishoitook a deep breath and said to the old monk, "Dear brother, please say, ‘The demons have led me astray’” The old monk said, "The demons cannot lead me astray, this is the truth." Anba Pishoi said to him, "Then please say, 'The demons have tempted me’". The old monk forced himself and said, "The demons have tempted me." As soon as he said these words, a demon came out of him in the form of pig opening his mouth to devour him, but St. Pishoi ordered the demon to disappear and indeed the demon obeyed. When all the monks saw what happened, theyknew that the Lord was with St. Pishoi, and they thankfully said, "Our holy father, forgive us." 

St. Pishoithensaid to the abbot, "Go to a that place and youwill find the stolen items." But he did not tell him who stole the things. He advised the abbot not to tell anyone that he guided him to the place where the stolen things were. The abbot went and found the stolen items and brought it back. All the monks glorified God and His great saint, Anba Pishoi. 

Discussion 

1 - Follow up the story by talking about it with the children. 

2 - Continue the discussion while they do the activity. 

Learning Activities 

Activity Sheet.