by Fr. Theodore A. Ziton
from The Word, November 1963
In one of his books, Tolstoy wrote this beautiful story: A devout Russian peasant had prayed for years that the Divine Master might visit his humble home some day. One night the peasant dreamed that the Master would come to him on the following day. So real seemed the dream that when the peasant awoke in the morning he arose immediately and went to work putting his cabin in good order for the expected heavenly Guest.
A violent storm of sleet and snow raged during the day, but the man performed his usual household tasks, and while preparing his pot of cabbage soup, he would look out into the storm with expectant eyes. Presently, he saw a poor peddler, with a pack on his back, struggling forward against the fierce icy flakes that almost overwhelmed him. The kindhearted peasant rushed out and brought the wayfarer into his cabin. He dried his clothing, shared his cabbage soup with him, and started him on his way warm and comforted.
Looking out again he saw another traveler, an old woman struggling through the snow. Her also he took into his cabin, warmed and fed her, wrapped his coat around her, and strengthened and encouraged, sent her rejoicing on her way.
Darkness began to fall, but still no sign of the Master. Hoping against hope the man once more went to his cabin door, and looking out into the night he saw a child, who was utterly unable to make his way against the blinding sleet and snow. Going out he took the half-frozen child in his arms, brought him into the cabin, warmed and fed him, and soon the little wayfarer fell asleep before the fire.
Bitterly disappointed at the Master’s non-appearance, the peasant sat gazing into the fire, and as he gazed he fell asleep. Suddenly the room was radiant with a light that did not come from the fire. Behold! The Master appeared. White-robed and serene, He looked upon the peasant with a smile. Ah, Master,” said the peasant, “I have waited and watched all day long, but You did not come.” The Master replied. “Three times have I visited your cabin. The poor peddler who you received, warmed and fed, that was I; the aged woman to whom you gave your coat, that was I; and this child whom you saved from the tempest, that is I. Amen. I say unto you; inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these, my little ones, you have also done it unto Me.”
Some one said: The greatest thing we can do for Our Heavenly Father is to love His children. The love of God and the love of our neighbor, according to St. Gregory, are two rings which compose the same chain, two streams which come from the same source. The more we love God, the more will we love our neighbor, and that is the reason why so many of God’s Saints have sacrificed themselves in such heroic manner for the love of their neighbor.
It is related of St. John that when he was very old, so old that he could not walk, he was carried in the arms of his friends to the assembly of the Christians. He lifted himself and said, “Little children, love one another. Again I say, love one another.” When he was asked, “Have you anything else to say?” he replied. “I say this again and again, love one another.”[…]
If you would show yourself to be a Christian in the truest sense of the word, then go, like the Master, to the poor and the helpless. Go to the widow and relieve her woes. Go to the orphans and speak words of comfort, Go to the lost and save them. Go to the sinners and whisper in their ears the words of eternal life. Go to your neighbors and bring them closer to God. Your humble services may be unimportant in the eyes of the world, but they will be most important in the eyes of God.
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St. Anastasia of Rome, October 29
Troparion, Tone 4
O holy Virgin Anastasia, thou didst redden thy robe of purity with the blood of thy martyr's contest. Thou dost illumine the world with the grace of healing and intercede with Christ our God for our souls.
Kontakion, Tone 3
Purified by the streams of thy virginity and crowned by the blood of martyrdom, thou dost grant healing to those in sickness, and salvation to those who lovingly pray to thee. For Christ has given thee strength which flows to us as a stream of grace, O Virgin Martyr Anastasia.
