Stephanas said, “Here there are others like me who have come to live in prayer and solitude. We are blessed to live in sight of the very place where Christus was born.”
“Where is it?” asked Nicholas.
Stephanas pointed in the distance toward the eastern side of town. “Right there, in that grove. There’s the cave.” Nicholas could make out the wooded grove, but not the cave. Stephanas added, “The proconsul turned it into a shrine to Adonis, but there’s no priest assigned to it, so we can see it as we wish.”
Nicholas asked, “That’s the actual place he was born?”
Stephanas said, “That’s what I’m told. Of course, 300 years ago it would have been a stable and no one would have paid it any attention.”
Stephanas led them to the hut he called home and there they shared a dinner of lentil stew. Nicholas found it very bland, and could only eat a little of it. His uncle too did not seem very hungry. Stephanas assured them, “We have plenty of lentils, so don’t hold back.” He explained, “Some brothers and I share a field where we grow the lentils. Once a week, I add some meat to the pot, some bits of chicken; but I find the lentils are a blessing for filling the belly without distracting me with thoughts of preparing food.”
After dinner, the older Nicholas presented Stephanas with the money, saying, “The brothers in Myra send their greetings.”
Stephanas said, “I pray the Lord will bless them for their sacrificial giving.”
Young Nicholas asked, “If you grow your own food, what will you use the money for?”
Stephanas said, “Once in a while I need to buy something, but for the most part, I give it to the poor.”
“Poorer than you?” asked young Nicholas.
Stephanas chuckled. Old Nicholas gave a stern look to the younger and said to Stephanas, “He means no disrespect.”
Stephanas said, “Oh, he has not insulted me. God has called me to poverty. I glory in it.”
Young Nicholas held back a frown. If Stephanas was honored in his poverty, were his parents shamed in their wealth? They too gave to the poor, but unlike Stephanas, they gave of their own money.
“Where is it?” asked Nicholas.
Stephanas pointed in the distance toward the eastern side of town. “Right there, in that grove. There’s the cave.” Nicholas could make out the wooded grove, but not the cave. Stephanas added, “The proconsul turned it into a shrine to Adonis, but there’s no priest assigned to it, so we can see it as we wish.”
Nicholas asked, “That’s the actual place he was born?”
Stephanas said, “That’s what I’m told. Of course, 300 years ago it would have been a stable and no one would have paid it any attention.”
Stephanas led them to the hut he called home and there they shared a dinner of lentil stew. Nicholas found it very bland, and could only eat a little of it. His uncle too did not seem very hungry. Stephanas assured them, “We have plenty of lentils, so don’t hold back.” He explained, “Some brothers and I share a field where we grow the lentils. Once a week, I add some meat to the pot, some bits of chicken; but I find the lentils are a blessing for filling the belly without distracting me with thoughts of preparing food.”
After dinner, the older Nicholas presented Stephanas with the money, saying, “The brothers in Myra send their greetings.”
Stephanas said, “I pray the Lord will bless them for their sacrificial giving.”
Young Nicholas asked, “If you grow your own food, what will you use the money for?”
Stephanas said, “Once in a while I need to buy something, but for the most part, I give it to the poor.”
“Poorer than you?” asked young Nicholas.
Stephanas chuckled. Old Nicholas gave a stern look to the younger and said to Stephanas, “He means no disrespect.”
Stephanas said, “Oh, he has not insulted me. God has called me to poverty. I glory in it.”
Young Nicholas held back a frown. If Stephanas was honored in his poverty, were his parents shamed in their wealth? They too gave to the poor, but unlike Stephanas, they gave of their own money.
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