A Final Story
In the fourth century, when the Christian faith was preached in its power in Egypt, a young brother sought out the great Macarius. “Father,” said he, “what is the meaning of being dead and buried with Christ?”
“My son,” answered Macarius, “you remember our dear brother who died, and was buried a short time since? Go now to his grave, and tell him all the unkind things that you ever heard of him, and that we are glad he is dead, and thankful to be rid of him, for he was such a worry to us, and caused so much discomfort in the church. Go, my son, and say that, and hear what he will answer.”
The young man was surprised, and doubted whether he really understood: but Macarius only said, “Do as I bid you, my son, and come and tell me what our departed brother says.”
The young man did as he was commanded, and returned.
“Well, and what did our brother say?” asked Macarius.
“Say, father!” he exclaimed; “how could he say anything? He is dead.”
“Go now again, my son, and repeat every kind and flattering thing you have ever heard of him; tell him how much we miss him; how great a saint he was; what noble work he did; how the whole church depended upon him; and come again and tell me what he says.”
The young man began to see the lesson Macarius would teach him. He went again to the grave, and addressed many flattering things to the dead man, and then returned to Macarius.
“He answers nothing, father; he is dead and buried.”
“You know now, my son,” said the old father, “what it is to be dead with Christ. Praise and blame equally are nothing to him who is really dead and buried with Christ.”
-Anon.
