Saint Athanasius
Coptic Orthodox Church
It is a well known verse which the Lord Christ said to the Samaritan woman at the well. With these words and through this request, as a needy person, He entered his love to her heart and she and the people of Samaria become believers.
These are the same words used by the late Fr. Mikhail Ibrahim when he went outreaching a man who had put in his heart to sell Christ. Other priests and deacons tried to convince him of otherwise but they failed and he even insulted them. The situation reached Fr. Mikhail . So he went to the man's apartment and knocked. He heard someone from the inside say "who is it?" He answered " Mikhail" Then another question "Mikhail , who?" The father answered and said " the priest from the Church" All of the sudden a voice with a negative and hopeless tune answered " I will not open the door' But the ever loving and giving father who never gives up hope kept on begging and pleading for the sake of the salvation of this person. Finally, Fr. Mikhail said " well sir, may I have some water to drink and I will leave?" Thinking it was the end of that conversation and it being a simple request, the man brought the cup of water and opened the door. After Father Mikhail drank the water he said " since you gave me a drink I must repay you. As is written in the Gospel a cup of cold water has its reward. I 'II give you your reward due and I'll leave right away." The man was astonished and said angrily" my due is for you to leave I don't want anything from you, please leave me alone, do what I am asking you" But the Father did not give up and he repeated himself. "I have to give you your due." And when he said that , Fr. Mikhail bowed to the ground in front of the man saying, "Forgive me son, for I have not done you justice. Please, I beg you don't leave Christ." The evil one(the devil) broke down and couldn't bear all that modesty and the love that knows no bounds.
The man bent over and picked the Father from the ground with tears in his eyes and full of emotions. Then the man bowed in front of Fr. Mikhail asking forgiveness and seeking a return to the bosom of his heavenly Father and to the Church.
May his blessings and prayers be with us all, and Glory be to God forever, Amen.
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