Gwatkin: the witnesses to living power

Wednesday, January 13, 2016
    Feast of Hilary, Bishop of Poitiers, Teacher, 367
    Commemoration of Kentigern (Mungo), Missionary Bishop in Strathclyde & Cumbria, 603
Meditation:
    For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying,
    “I will tell of your name to my brothers;
    in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
    —Hebrews 2:10-12 (ESV)
Quotation:
    No wonder if the Christians made an impression out of all proportion to their numbers. Conviction in the midst of waverers, fiery energy in a world of disillusion, purity in an age of easy morals, firm brotherhood in a loose society, heroic courage in a time of persecution, formed a problem that could not be set aside, however polite society might affect to ignore it: and the religion of the future turned on the answer to it. Would the world be able to explain it better than the Christians, who said it was the living power of the risen Saviour?
    ... Henry M. Gwatkin (1844-1916), Early Church History to A.D. 312, v. I, London: Macmillan, 1912, p. 234 (see the book)
    See also Heb. 2:10-12; Ps. 22:22; Acts 3:15; 1 Cor. 1:18; 4:10; 15:56-58; Heb. 12:2
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You are risen in power over the world. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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