Now it happened one year that the Nile
did not rise enough to water all our fields, and a multitude of the poor came
to Abba Aaron weeping and saying, "Our holy father, we and our children
are going to die because the waters have not risen!" He said to them,"Believe
in God and He will deliver you. As it is
written, 'The prayer of the poor man who is downhearted, he pours out entreaty
before the Lord.' Again it says, 'The Lord has heard the desires of the
poor.'" He quoted them numerous
other passages from scripture and explained them to them, and he comforted
them, and in this way they departed from him praising God. Now the holy man Aaron was not unconcerned
about their distress, and he would go to the river each evening and immerse
himself in the water up to his neck and he would pray to God, saying, "My
good Christ, compassionate one, have compassion upon your image and
likeness." Indeed, he continued this practice until God had compassion for
his tears and made the waters of the Nile flow over the face of the whole
country.
Paphnutius, Life of Abba Aaron, 131.
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