Tuesday, 9th June 2020

COLUMBA OF IONA,

Missionary in Scotland,597

Columba was an Irish priest who entered the priesthood and became an active preacher and teacher of the Faith in his own country. His name means ’dove’ in Latin, but as a young man he did not always display the supposed virtues of the dove. He quarreled with his abbot over the ownership of a book, and the dispute grew to such proportions that the High King himself had to subdue him and his followers in a pitched battle. As an act of penance, he was ordered to go into exile until he had converted as many people as had died in the battle. He chose to go to Scotland where he settled on the island of Iona. Here he established a famous monastery which became for the Scottish Church what St Augustine’s foundation at Canterbury was for the English. Penitence for the past led him to practice a stern asceticism; but this was combined with a gentleness and sweetness of character that attracted many followers. It is recorded that when he first arrived on the shores of Scotland, he ordered the boats to be burnt so that neither he nor his companions might be tempted to return to Ireland. Thus, does God enter human hearts and bring good out of evil. In the same year that he died (AD 597), Augustine landed in Kent, England. Today St Columbia rivals St Andrew as the patron saint of Scotland.

Collect

God our Father you called us out of darkness into your marvelous light and you gave your servant Columba to shine in our hearts and enable us to proclaim your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord,

 Amen.

Eucharist Readings:

1Kings 17:7-16            Psalm 4          Matthew 5: 13-16

So many times, we have heard the saying you are not living up to your name or maybe used the phrase several times ourselves. Sometimes in our society people categorize us with a certain group and there is an expectation that we are supposed to conduct ourselves in a certain way. When we look at the story of Columba , the meaning of his name ‘dove’, apparently he did not live up to the meaning of his name and did not always display supposed virtues of the dove ,which symbolizes purity, innocence and harmlessness. ‘I send you out like sheep among wolves; be wary as serpents, innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16. Although Columba was put in exile, his penitence for the past attracted many followers. On arrival in Scotland he ordered the boats to be burned so it will not be a temptation for himself and others to go back to Ireland.

The question maybe today for us, are we living up to our name, Christians. To the disciples Jesus said you are the salt to the earth and the light of the world. When Jesus said this, he provided people with an expression which has become the greatest compliment that can be paid to any human being. Like with the dove, salt was also connected with purity. The Romans said that salt was the purest of all things, the sun and the sea. So then, if the Christian is to be the salt of the earth, he/she must be an example of purity.

When Jesus said that the Christian must be the light of the world, what did he mean? A light is first and foremost something which is meant to be seen. So, Christianity is something which is meant to be seen. As someone has well said, “There can be no such thing as secret discipleship, for either the secrecy destroys the discipleship, or the discipleship destroys the secrecy”. A person’s Christianity should be perfectly visible to all.

Maybe today we also get the opportunity to burn something from the past to enable us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. As the crowds gathered around the apostles daily, to listen to their teachings, people also had a need for fellowship, need for prayer and breaking bread together. Maybe this is also our instruction, our virtues, we as Christians need to comply with. God is also giving us the opportunity to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Maybe now and under the circumstances exceedingly difficult living it out, to do what we are supposed to do, we cannot physically fellowship together, break bread together, but we can still pray for one another. Maybe we have opportunities to do some good deeds during this time, but as Christians our good deeds ought to draw attention, not to ourselves but to God.

Maybe then, we are living up to our name, Christians.

Let us pray

“You are the salt of the earth.”

Sprinkle us across our town, God,
    across our world,
    to bring the spirit of your Kingdom wherever we go. 

“You are the light of the world.”
Uncover the radiance that is
within us, God,
to shine the truth of your love
wherever we go. 

“Let your light shine before others”
that everyone we meet
may see our lives of worship
and glorify you,
our Father in heaven.

Amen.