Because we are close to Holy Passion Item the Lord Jesus Christ we decided to put before you a story that illustrates very well the purpose of fasting: increased love of neighbor and God. The story is called St. Macarius grapes.
once lived in the wilderness of Egypt Macarius parent name. It was known throughout the country for good works which he did and many people came to him for advice. Since May was still living in that wilderness parent Makarios, we will talk about him, called him all the city folk, because they came from the famous city of Alexandria. St. Macarius was now old and ran a monastery where the story happened which I will tell.
In one day, came to St. Macarius man and brought some ripe grapes and a sweet smelling. We must know that the desert monks did not pick up where grapes, because there is always great heat, sand and plants as the eye can see almost completely missing. The man thought that he would make a great joy that Father Macarius bringing grape that is both slopes in the desert, where even water is not enough. St. took grapes and thanked the guest for the love shown. Alone in his cell, even the father thought that nice to eat grapes entice you with its pleasant fragrance. But when he wanted to break a pearls and remembered the entire community of monks he was leading and thought that they would have liked, of course, also to taste a grape. What to do St? Let him eat alone never did, because the other monks thought made him feel stingy and greedy. "Am I really that small-hearted way to eat this grape alone, while others endure thirst brothers? I will not do it! "- Father and said to himself. And, thinking about what to do with that grape, St. Macarius decide to give it first mover. Not long passed and behold a monk knocked on the door of Father Macarius. Seeing him, păritele enjoyed, and after talking with him, and he gave out grapes, saying: "Look, brother, receives from me this grape, because I am old and sick stomach, so I can not eat grapes. "St. Macarius said because disease is the brother only to receive the gift, because he would have tasted even a reel of that fruit so personable and good-smelling. The brother took the grapes and went thanking the cell. But
avrut cans arrived in Chile and eat grapes, the young monk had the same thought as St. Macarius, "How will I eat myself this grape, while others endure thirst brothers? The will I go and give him a brother ill. "monk came out and went to a brother whom he knew more sickly:" He has more need than strgure me "- he said to himself.
But it happened that never held any ill monk grapes for himself, but decided to give it to someone else. So the last grapes from a monk to another, because each thought the other did not own. Towards evening, one of the monks who had just gotten in but that great grapes from another brother, he thought to himself: "What beautiful grapes! How did it get sunburnt in the desert and devoid of greenery? I'm going to give him our father Macarius grapes, because he is old and needs more a lot of food as it only me who are young and strong. "Saying this, the monk grapes hidden under his jacket and went with him to the cell of St. Macarius. When St. Macarius saw grapes than its wonderful, because he recognized immediately. He was really grape, receiving it as a gift, gave a brother. He wondered, for her brother who was brought back grapes other than the morning. Holy and realized what happened, as the brothers did not want to take any grapes for himself and gave him one to another, and now turned back grapes him. Pretending that he knew nothing, St. Macarius took the grapes and thanked, marveling at how much love shown by the monks of his community, because no one thought to themselves, but each of the others.
Alone, Father Makarios took the grapes, saying to himself: "Since none of the brothers did not eat the grapes, as it will eat me, you are a parent and învţător?" And they said, led grapes and put on a stone. A bird came to him having brought her chicks. So ended grapes of St. Macarius.
( From Little Patericon , Savatie Baştovoi )
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