Momento Espírita
Curitiba, 29 de Março de 2024
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ícone Turning stones into breads

It is told that the monk Bartholomew of the Martyr has lived to serve. He was Portuguese, from the city of Braga.

One day, in the comunnity where he offered his work, they decided to build a monumental Cathedral. A temple of great proportions, that could house big crowds.

In order to do that, the nobles met and arranged that they would, yearly, contribute with large sums.

The construction began. The pillars, the walls rose, they arrived the ceiling.

It was then that monk Bartholomew realized that a crisis had reached the country, reaching out the people. The less fortunate fought against hunger, misery, diseases.

As head of that religious community, he had at his disposal all that collected Money, whose administration was his competence. Especially, of course, for the construction of the Cathedral.

In that year, he left the cathedral standing still. It had a ceiling, he thought. It could wait.

The nobles, however, continued to deliver large sums. In the second year, the construction continued standing still. Also in the third, fourth, fifth.

Ten years later, the cathedral was just the same. Not ready at all.

Although they trusted monk Bartholomew, the nobles gathered, organized a commission and six of them went to talk to the monk.

Friends with everyone, he received them fraternally and listened to them. Finally, he answered.

According to my accountancy, there are over two thousand families in need. As the spiritual father of all of them, I cannot allow my children to starve. Everything has been spent with our own people.

One of them said: But monk, it is right that you help these creatures. You could withdraw a small percentage of the sum we gave you.

The old monk sighed, shrugged the shoulders, clasped the hands and answered:

You gentlemen give me a very curious proposal. You see. It is read in the Gospel that Jesus in the wilderness was invited to turn stones into bread.

You gentlemen, however, are asking me just the oposite:  that I turn bread into stones.

*    *    *

The shepherd of those souls was right. Human life deserves all of our respect.

In speaking of rights, the first of every creature is to live.

Therefore, to nourish bodies, to provide the basic needs of our brothers does not constitute charity but brotherly duty to your brother.

*    *    *

All of Jesus´s morals are summed up in charity and humility, that is, in the two virtues contrary to selfishness and pride.

Concerning charity, the Master of Nazareth did not limit Himself to recommending them. He places them clearly as the absolute condition of happiness:

Come, ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a foreigner, and you took me in.

I was naked, and you dressed me. I got sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to see me.

Verily I tell you that when ye have done it unto one of my little brothers happy, you have done it unto me.

And summing up the lesson, He recommended: Love one another. Practice good without ostentation. Do unto others as ye would have them do unto you.

 Spiritist Moment Team, with transcription
from
Gospel of Mathew, chapter 25, verses 34
to 36 and 40.
June, 18.2019.

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