Passing the faith along

Who doesn't love a good story about how the Christian faith has stayed alive for lo these two thousand years? The stories of faithful believers get woven in with the stories of Jesus, and then our stories get woven in with theirs. In this way we can feel connected to Christians across the ages.

Today is the feast day of Edmund, King of East Anglia, Martyr, who died for the Christian faith in 870. Edmund was fifteen years old when he became king, and by the time he was thirty, the British Isles had become a cupcake in a hungry world of seafaring peoples.

The Danes, led by the brothers Hinguar and Hubba, invaded in 870. They destroyed villages, burned monasteries and churches, killed hundreds of people, and worked their way to East Anglia. When they met Edmund, they offered to share their plunder if he would renounce his Christian faith and become their puppet king. He refused, and paid the terrible price of his life.

So goes the story of Edmund. Christianity eventually reached Denmark, but what if Edmund had caved in to Hinguar and Hubba?

O God of ineffable mercy, you gave grace and fortitude to blessed Edmund the king to triumph over the enemy of his people by nobly dying for your Name. Bestow on us your servants the shield of faith with which we can withstand the assaults of our ancient enemy; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.


In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, MT
406-208-7314
www.holycrosschurchbillings.org