45 - Abba Arsanius and The Beans

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

Lesson No. ( 45 )

References 

+ I Corinthians 5:10, 6:10. 2 Corinthians 7:2, Ephesians 5:5. 

+ The Garden of Monks 

+ Coptic Orthodox Book of Saints, St. George & St. Joseph Church, Montreal. 

Notes for Servants 

i Beloved servant, are you satisfied, in your heart, with what God gave you? Are you satisfied with your appearance, your family, your education, your financial status, etc.? Or do you always complain that you want much more? 

i Always remember that you cannot deliver a massage which you do not apply in your own life. 

Objectives 

General: Curing greed: finding satisfaction and contentment. 

Specific: The children will be able to: 

1. Understand the meaning of satisfaction; 
2. Apply the feeling of satisfaction to their lives by appreciating what God gave them, and not looking at what other people have; 
3. Consider other people when they eat at home or anywhere else, so they do not to choose the best for themselves, or try to take more than anyone else. 

Bible Verse 

" Take heed, and beware of covetousness. " 

(Luke 12:15) 

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) Begin by asking the following questions: Mention some of the Lord's gifts to you. Where do our food and clothes come from? Do you think God for all that He gives you? How do you look

when you are at the table having non-fasting food while the others are fasting? 

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

Story Time 

Anba Arsanius was brought up in the court of the king so he was used to luxury. He trained himself to live the true monastic life little by little. He was not in need of a direct way to learn, but he learned through observing what he saw around him and many times, a small gesture was enough to teach him a big lesson. 

One day Anba Arsanius was eating boiled beans with his brothers, the monks at the monastery. The custom in the monastery was not to purify the beans but St. Arsanius used to select the white beans to eat. The abbot was not pleased with what Anba Arsanius did, as this might change the system followed in the monastery. The abbot said to one of the brothers, "Endure what I shall do to you for the sake of the Lord." The brother answered "All right, father." The abbot said, "Sit beside Arsanius and select the white beans and eat them." 

When the time came to eat, the brother did as the abbot had told him. At once, the abbot gave him a strong slap on his face saying, "How do you select the white beans for yourself and leave the black ones for your brothers?" St. Arsanius stood up, then bowed to the abbot and to the brother and said, "This slap was not for you but for me. Arsanius, the servant of the king's sons does not know how to eat beans with the monks of Egypt." 

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.