St. Moses the Strong

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this module is to teach sixth graders about the life of repentance through the lives of the saints. In week 1, students will learn about St. Moses the Strong; week 2: St. Mary of Egypt; week 3: Paẽsia and week 4: St. Augustine. In week 5, students will complete a capstone project.

INTRODUCTION - 5 Minutes

St. Moses the strong is also known as St. Moses The Black. His feast day is on July 1st

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 10 Minutes

  • This saint took the Kingdom of Heaven by force, exactly as our Lord Jesus Christ said: "The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." Matthew 11:12
  • What do you think this verse means?
  • "Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him." Proverbs 26:27 (reflect on this verse at the end of the lesson)

LIFE OF THE SAINT - 15 Minutes

Tell the general description of the saint's life (found below in Appendix)

DISCUSSION/ACTIVITY - 25 Minutes

There are 3 themes that can be discussed in the life of St. Moses:

  1. Revenge
  2. Courage
  3. Struggle

Read the following short stories from the life of St. Moses, and use the questions to guide the discussion

Story 1: On one occasion, a man caught St Moses in the midst of a robbery, which annoyed St Moses immensely. The next day, he swam across the Nile (not an insignificant act) with a knife in his mouth -- his intention was to kill the man. When he arrived at the man's home, he found that the man had fled (having obviously heard some of Moses' previous exploits). St Moses, instead, killed four of his sheep before sticking the knife back in his mouth and swimming back.

Question 1: Have you ever felt like you wanted to exact revenge on someone? Maybe in a sport, or someone stole something from you? What good would come of that?

Story 2: (Demonstrates St. Moses courage) One day, when the brethren were sitting beside him, he said to them, 'Look, the barbarians are coming to Scetis today; get up and flee.' They said to him, 'Abba, won't you flee too?' He said to them, 'As for me, I have been waiting for this day for many years, that the word of the Lord Christ may be fulfilled which says, "All who take the sword will perish by the sword." ' (Matt. 26.52) They said to him, 'We will not flee either, but we will die with you.' He said to them: 'That is nothing to do with me; let everyone decide for himself whether he stops or not.' Now there were seven brothers there and he said to them, 'Look, the barbarians are drawing near to the door.' They came in and slew them. But one fled and hid under the cover of a pile of rope and he saw seven crowns descending and crowning them.

Question 2: What are some of your fears? When will we live courageously not worrying about what could happen? What are some things that stand in our way of living a courageous life?

Story 3: (Demonstrates St. Moses and his struggles while he was at the monastery.) It happened that Abba Moses was struggling with the temptation of fornication. Unable to stay any longer in the cell, he went and told Abba Isidore. The old man exhorted him to return to his cell. But he refused, saying, 'Abba, I cannot.' Then Abba Isidore took Moses out onto the terrace and said to him, 'Look towards the west.' He looked and saw hordes of demons flying about and making a noise before launching an attack. Then Abba Isidore said to him, 'Look towards the east.' He turned and saw an innumerable multitude of holy angels shining with glory. Abba Isidore said, 'See, these are sent by the Lord to the saints to bring them help, while those in the west fight against them. Those who are with us are more in number than they are.' Then Abba Moses, gave thanks to God, plucked up courage and returned to his cell.

Question 3: Did you ever consider that everyday God is sending you angels to help you fight your struggles? Imagine if you could see them. In what ways would your decisions/ life be different?

CONCLUSION - 2 Minutes

Even though St. Moses lived a violent and sinful life, he repented when he found the Lord. Through his actions, over one hundred people were saved from death and the cycle of revenge was broken.

St. Moses lived in a time where revenge and hatred of the other seem like the only way. If a relationship with God can bring a man as violent and angry as St. Moses the Black to peace, and living a life of non-violence for God can help heal others and save hundreds from death.

RESOURCES

APPENDIX

The Life of St. Moses:

In his early life, St. Moses was a slave to people who worshiped the sun. He was a mighty man who loved to eat and drink excessively. He killed, robbed and committed all evil. No one could challenge him. On many occasions, he lifted up his eyes to look to the sun and to talk to it saying, "O Sun If you are God, let me know it." Then he said, "And You, you O God whom I do not know, let me know you." One day, he heard someone saying to him, "The monks of Wadi El-Natroun know the real God. Go to them and they will tell you." Instantly, he rose up, girded his sword and went to the wilderness of Shehet (Skete).

He met St. Isidore the priest, who was frightened when he saw him, because of his appearance. St. Moses comforted him by saying that he came to the monks so that they might let him know the real God. St. Isidore took him to St. Macarius the Great, who preached to him, taught him the faith and baptized him. He accepted St. Moses as a monk and taught him to live in the wilderness. St. Moses fought spiritual battles greater than those fought by many saints. However, the Devil fought him and often tempted him with thoughts of old habits of excessive eating, drinking, and fornication. He informed St. Isidore about this intense spiritual warfare. St. Isidore comforted St. Moses taught him how to overcome the snares of the Devil.

It was said about St. Moses, when the elders of the monastery slept at night, he used to go around to their cells and take their water pots to fill them with water, which was a far distance from the monastery. After many years in spiritual struggle, the Devil envied him and struck him with a sore on his foot which made him sick and bed-ridden. When he knew that this was from the Devil, he increased in his asceticism and worship, until his body became as burnt wood. God looked to his patience, healed his illness, and removed all his pains. The blessing of the Lord came upon him. After a while, he became the spiritual father and guide of 500 brothers, who elected him to be ordained a priest. When he came before the Patriarch to be ordained, the Patriarch wanted to test him by using extremely inflammatory language, asking the elders, "Who brought this black here? Cast him out." He obeyed and left saying to himself, "It is good what they have done to you, O black-colored one. The Patriarch, however, called him back and ordained him a priest, and said to him, Moses, all of you now has become white," referring to the purity of his soul.

One day, he went with some elders to St. Macarius the Great, who said to them, "I see among you one to whom belongs the crown of martyrdom." St. Moses answered him, "Probably it is me, for it is written: 'For all that take with the sword, shall perish with the sword.'" (Matt. 26:52). After they returned to the monastery, it did not take long until the Berbers attacked the monastery. He told the brethren, "Whoever wants to escape, let him escape." They asked him, "And you O father, why do you not also escape?" He replied that he had waited for this day for a long time. The Berbers entered the monastery and killed him with seven other brothers. One of the brethren was hiding, and saw the angel of the Lord, with a crown in his hand standing by and waiting for him. He stepped out from his hiding place to the Berbers and was also martyred. He died at age 75.

His body is now located at the Virgin Mary's Coptic Orthodox Monastery of El-Baramous in Wadi-el-Natroun, Egypt.

LESSON ATTACHMENTS

Grade 6 Week 1 Activity (Saints).pdf