Family Faith Reflections from Chris

This week, I’d like to share with you one of my all-time favorite saints: St. Moses “the Black”, the patron saint of Africa and one of our most inspiring redemption stories.
 

Moses was leader of a gang of desert bandits that prowled the highways around the Nile River, robbing travelers during the late Roman Empire. His gang was especially violent; when Moses attacked a caravan, he would kill not only the people but even the animals!

One day, Roman soldiers set a trap for him. Moses escaped and fled into the desert, looking for a place to hide. Stumbling upon a small, dark building, he climbed in through an open window, found a man sleeping in his bed, and said, “Make any noise and you’re dead!”
 
The man said to Moses, “You look like you’re in trouble.  How can we help?” Moses had unwittingly broken into a monastery, and the man he threatened was a monk. The monks would welcome anyone who sought refuge and they invited Moses to stay as a guest — no questions asked. They shared food with him and included him in their community prayers.
 

Moses was amazed at how the desert monks were content to live with few possessions and no wealth. He himself had spent his entire life violently seeking material things, and had never been happy! His surprise became curiosity, and then desire. After spending some time in the monastery, Moses asked to become one of the brothers.
 
Many years later, Brother Moses became leader of the monastery. He was sleeping in his bed one night when he was awakened by the skulking sound of someone climbing through his open window. The shadowy figure said, “Make any noise and you’re dead!” The monastery was being robbed — by his old gang! Moses fought off the intruder, and then single-handedly defeated the rest of the robbers, too. He saved the monks!
 

The story of St. Moses the Black reminds us that it’s never too late to give up sin and to commit one’s life to God. If the grace of God (and a few friends of faith) could turn a man as violent as Moses into a servant, a leader, and a protector, how much more could he accomplish with someone like you?
 

The Memorial of St. Moses is August 28th.