The greatness, knowledge and ministry of the saints

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III





The greatness, knowledge and ministry of the saints

(a) During his lifetime, Samuel the Prophet was consulted about a lost donkey. It was said about him: "...there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he says surely comes to pass. So let us go there; perhaps he can show us the way that we should go" (1Sam.9: 6). If the man of God, while he was on earth, knew the unseen, how much more would his soul know in heaven!

(b) When Elisha was on earth, he perceived what Gehazi did in secret when he accepted the gifts from Naaman the Syrian (2Kin.5: 25-27).

(c) One of the officers of the King of Aram said about Elisha to his master the king: "...but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom" (2Kin.6: 12).

(d) Elisha perceived, at the time of the famine, that the King of Israel had sent a messenger to kill him (2Kin.6: 32). If Elisha, while still in the flesh, had the gift of knowing secret things, how much more would he know in heaven after putting off his body?

(e) Likewise, St. Peter the Apostle knew what Ananius and Sapphira did in secret. He disclosed it to them and punished them (Acts 5: 3,9).
(f) Also, St. Paul knew that after he would leave, savage wolves would come in among the Ephesians and would not spare the flock (Acts 20: 29).

If the Apostles knew that much while they were still in the flesh, how much more would the Lord reveal to them in heaven!

These saints have knowledge and have a message for people. Their life, which started on earth did not end with their departure to heaven. We ask them to intervene more than we ask those who are still striving on earth like ourselves and have not yet departed