48 - Repentance - Moses The Black
In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God, Amen
Lesson No. ( 48 )
References
The Precious Gem (El-Khareeda Al Nafeessa)
Notes for Servants
i Contemplate the action of repentance and it’s effect. It changed the nature of a slave who was an unbeliever, adulterer and apostate and turned him into a holy man, a servant and a priest who laid rules for monks and became a great saint. His body is buried in El-Baramos Monastery.
Objectives
Specific: The children will be able to:
- Understand the meaning of repentance;
- Learn that God accepts everybody if they repent;
- Pray for their friends if they do bad things.
Bible Verse
"Return unto me, and I will return unto you."
(Malachi 3:7)
Teaching Aids
Picture of St. Moses the Black.
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) Teacher should prepare the appropriate questions to emphasize the objectives during the lesson.
Story Time
Saint Moses the Black was a man whose reputation was very bad but then became a great saint whose name is now mentioned in the liturgy. Moses was a tall, strong, very dark Ethiopian, and a well known murderer and thief. He used to beat men, call them bad names. He would eat a whole lamb for each meal and drink a barrel of wine. He was a slave but his master dismissed him because of his bad conduct. After Moses left his master, he gathered a band of about seventy men of robbers and they became a kind of gang. Moses used to worship the sun and used to say to it, "If you are God tell me, and God whom I do not know, let me know you."
The Lord heard his prayer. A voice from heaven said to him, "The monks in the wilderness will tell you about Me." Moses took his sword and quickly went into the wilderness. Father Isidore was there and when he saw Moses, he became very afraid as he had heard ofMoses and his gang. He made the sign of the cross. Moses greeted him and said, "I want you to tell me who God is."
The priest was surprised. He laid the cross on Moses' head and said, "What made you come here?" Moses told him everything that happened.
Father Isidore rested his head on his staff and prayed for Moses. When he raised his eyes,he found Moses weeping. Isidore knew that those were tears of repentance. He rejoiced and said, "Why do you weep?" Moses answered, "Because of my sins and wicked deeds. I want the Lord to accept me." The priest said to him, "If your repentance is true, the Lord will accept you, as the Lord says, “Return to me and I will return to you.” Moses bowed to the ground before the priest and confessed his sins aloud while weeping bitterly. Abba Isidore suddenly saw a plank in the sky full of black writing (the sins of Moses) and the angel of the Lord kept erasing the plankl as Moses confessed until it became white and clean. The priest sent him to Abba Macarius after praying for him. Abba Macarius was very pleased with the new repentant. He taught him, guided him, baptized him and Moses became a Christian. Abba Macarius then sent Moses back to Father Isidore and dressed him in the monk's garb (clothes). (Describe the clothing) He advised him to stay in the wilderness to struggle, pray, worship and read the Bible.
Moses the Black quickly progressed in grace until he became a saint and he had disciples of his own whom he guided. He was murdered by barbarians who came and attacked the monastery. When Moses’ disciples saw them coming they began to run and urged their leader to flee as well. St. Moses the Ethiopianrefused saying that he must stay because the Bible says, “He who kills by the sword, shall die by the sword.” The church celebrates his martyrdom on 24thofBaunah. His body is buried in El-Baramus monastery, may the blessings and prayers be with us, Amen.
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.
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