A Parable

Adapted from a tradition:

A man named Simeon lived upon a ten-inch by ten-inch piece of wood held up by the stump of a dead tree. On this tower he had only his garment, an animal hide turned inside-out so as to be uncomfortable, and a whip which he used to mortify his body.

As people would walk past and see him, they would be amazed. “Clearly, Simeon is devoted to God,” they would say.

The High Priests, who knew their authority was threatened by such an impressive display of piety, would regularly ask him to come down.

“Brother,” they would say “You have done more than enough, why don’t you come down so we may throw a feast in your honor?”

Each time the High Priests would ask, Simeon would refuse, and all who heard would be amazed by Simeon's humility.

One day, Jesus of Nazareth came upon Simeon’s tower. Recognizing Jesus as a holy man, Simeon nodded to him silently.

“What are you doing?” Jesus asked.

Simeon, who rarely spoke, was astonished by the question and felt moved to break his silence. “Brother, isn’t it obvious? I am serving God.”

Jesus asked “Who told you to do this?”

Simeon replied “I do this of my own will.”

Jesus asked “How do you eat?’

Simeon replied “Once a day, my brother brings me a jug of goat’s milk and a crust of bread.”

Seeing that Simeon’s brother was taking care of Simeon, Jesus replied “You are not serving God, your brother is.”

As quickly as he had arrived, Jesus was gone. “What a foolish man,” thought Simeon, as he continued to torture himself upon his piece of wood.