Three Russian monks lived on a faraway
island. Nobody ever went there, but one
day their bishop decided to make a pastoral visit.
When he arrived, he discovered that the monks
didn't even know the Lord's prayer. So
he spent all his time and energy teaching them the "Our Father" and
then left, satisfied with his pastoral work.
But when his ship had left the island and was
back in the open sea, he suddenly noticed the three hermits walking on the
water - in fact, they were running after the ship!
When they reached it, they cried, "Dear
father, we have forgotten the prayer you taught us."
The bishop, overwhelmed by what he was seeing
and hearing, said, "But, dear brothers, how then do you pray?"
They answered, "Well, we just say, 'Dear
God, there are three of us and there are three of you, have mercy on
us!'"
The bishop, awestruck by their sanctity and
simplicity, said, "Go back to your land and be at peace."
*from Spiritual
Direction by Henri J.M. Nouwen
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