MORAL STORIES

MIGHTY MILO

Milo of the ancient city of Kroton, a Greek colony of Southern Italy, was a legendary wrestler with extraordinary strength, who won the Olympic wrestling championship six times between the years 540 to 516 B.C.
While he was a boy, his father gifted a newborn bull calf to Milo. He used to lift up the calf in his arms and carry it on his back everyday. Since it grew up only gradually, Milo did not notice the change in its weight. He continued the exercise everyday and his strength grew along with his calf. He could easily lift it in his arms even when it grew into an adult bull. This enabled him to become an athlete of unparalleled strength and stamina.
The story of Milo's successful training teaches us a lesson in spiritual development. We can gain the power to resist great temptations if we practice resisting minor temptations of life regularly and constantly with the power of prayer and faith in God's infinite grace {Hebrews 4:15, 16}. God will grant us the strength to endure temptations
{1 Corinthians 10: 13, 1 Peter 5: 8-10}. St. James advises, "Submit to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you"{James 4:7}.
The pretty, smooth and round pebbles found near waterfalls are formed by years of slow, natural grinding and polishing. Similarly, our wilful and prayerful resistance to even minor temptations gradually reforms our character and leads to a life of spiritual strength and moral maturity.
St. Paul advises, "Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of His mighty power. Put on all the armour that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil's evil tricks" {Ephesians 6: 10, 11}.

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By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India.This is Story No. 33 in this site. Please click ‘Older Post’ at the bottom of this page to read previous stories and click 'Newer Post' at the bottom of this page to read newer stories in this site. Please click on a word in the 'Story Themes' to read stories on that theme.