In this tale, a Bishop hears of three elderly hermits living a simple, holy life on a remote island. Curious and wanting to ensure their theology is "correct," he travels to meet them. When he arrives, he finds that their only prayer is a simple refrain: "Three are ye, three are we, have mercy upon us."
Humbled by this display of supernatural power, the Bishop realizes their simple faith was already more "correct" than his formal education. He tells them: "Your own prayer will reach the Lord, men of God. Pray for us sinners." theology
Finding this too primitive, the Bishop spends the entire day teaching them the formal Lord’s Prayer. Satisfied that he has "fixed" their theology, he sails away. In this tale, a Bishop hears of three
: It reminds us that theology (the study of God) is meant to lead us to God, not replace a relationship with Him. He tells them: "Your own prayer will reach
That night, as his ship is far out at sea, the Bishop sees a light skimming across the water. It is the three hermits, literally to catch the ship. They reach the side and tell the Bishop they have already forgotten the long prayer he taught them and ask him to teach it again.
For those looking for a more contemporary "theological story," many find comfort in , which frames the theology of Christ's heart as deeply personal and approachable rather than distant and demanding. My Top 10 Theology Stories of 2020 - The Gospel Coalition