There was an occasion when a young religious scholar was returning home from his studies of theology. He was walking leisurely home through the town square feeling particularly proud of his devoted study and gloating about the bright future which was before him. As every other day, the town beggar cried out to the young man, "Young Sir, God bless you this day!"
The young man was familiar with this beggar's cries for help and knew he only used the name of God to appeal to the generosity of the passer-by. So on this day the young man thought better of it and sought to cut the old man off before he could ask for money. "I say beggar; are you so worthless that all you can do is beg for change from those who spend all day working hard?"
"Sir!" the beggar replied, "I do not know if I am worthless or not, but perhaps you should as the potter who formed me."
Immediately the young scholar realized he had sinned. He fell before the beggar and cried, "Brother forgive me, I have sinned against God and you."
The young man was familiar with this beggar's cries for help and knew he only used the name of God to appeal to the generosity of the passer-by. So on this day the young man thought better of it and sought to cut the old man off before he could ask for money. "I say beggar; are you so worthless that all you can do is beg for change from those who spend all day working hard?"
"Sir!" the beggar replied, "I do not know if I am worthless or not, but perhaps you should as the potter who formed me."
Immediately the young scholar realized he had sinned. He fell before the beggar and cried, "Brother forgive me, I have sinned against God and you."
An adaption of the parable: "The Rabbi and the Exceedingly Ugly Man"
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