Thoughts for the Day

But the souls of of the righteousness are in the hands of God,
and no torment will ever touch them.
In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died,
and their departure was thought to be a disaster,
and their going from us to be their destruction;
but they are at peace.....

Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself;
like gold in the furnace he tried them.....

Thos who trust in him will understand truth,
and the faithful will abide with him in love,
because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,
and he watched over his elect.

(New Revised Standard Version)

*Use http://biblegateway.com to find the Apocrypha and the Wisdom of Solomon.

*Picture: Stained glass window of St Oswald King of Northumbria

Thoughts

The Church celebrates the life of those who show exceptional faith or commitment to Christianity. Today we celebrate St Oswald, who was the eldest son of the pagan King Aethelfrith of Bernicia. He is known as Oswald of Northumbria, and was probably born in AD 605. He was converted to Christianity by monks from Iona Abbey, where he was educated, and became a warrior at an early age.

However Oswald's reputation as a saint comes from his re-introduction of Christianity to Northumbria. He invited St Aidan from Ireland to set up a missionary movement centred on Lindisfarne near his royal court at Bamburgh, and was instrumental in cementing a relationship with King Cynegils of Wessex where he stood as Godfather to the pagan king upon his conversion to Christianity. He was finally killed in battle against a pagan army on 5th August AD 642, and his body taken to Bardney Abbey and later St Oswald's in Gloucester. The King's Royal Standard of purplish-red and gold, forms the basis of the coat of arms of modern Nothumberland.

In this day and age when we can choose or reject God, perhaps we forget that for other Christians the choice was often life-threatening.

Wednesday 5th August, follow up thoughts

Almighty God,
when it's easy to turn to You
sometimes we still reject You,
and go our own way.
We thank you that our forebears
chose to follow You
despite putting their own life in danger.
Amen.