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Growing up in Kent, England, I was familiar with parts of the Pilgrim's Way to Canterbury . This leads to the site of the medieval shrine of Thomas Becket, a former Archbishop of Canterbury. Thomas Becket was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral 850 year ago today, 29 December 1170 by 4 of King Henry II's knights.  The knights believed they were doing what the king wanted by getting rid of the man King Henry II had described as "this turbulent priest". Thomas Becket was a friend of King Henry II but defended the independence of the Church against the King's wish to have more monarchical control of the church in England. The disagreement over authority, fuelled perhaps by personality clashes, lasted for years. For more on the story leading up to the murder (or assassination) take a look at Richard Barber's article, 'The unholy feud that killed Thomas Becket'. Thomas was neither the first nor last Archbishop of Canterbury to be murdered, but he was the only ...

  What do you call the day after Christmas Day? Boxing Day? The 2nd day of Christmas? Or St Stephen’s Day? Christians have observed the Feast of Stephen, Deacon and Martyr on 26 December since before the church chose to celebrate Christ’s birth on 25 December. It is discomforting to remember the 1st known Christian martyr in the season of ‘comfort and joy’ that is Christmas. At Christmas we celebrate the birth of a baby named Jesus, born to Mary, born to save. But if we stick only with nativity stories, we might forget the baby in the manger grew up. When Jesus grew up and began his good-news mission, some people rejected and others welcomed and followed him. Stephen followed Jesus. You can read Stephen’s story in the New Testament, Acts Chapters 6 and 7 . That tells us Stephen was “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit”, “full of grace and power” who “did great wonders and signs among the people.” Stephen didn’t choose to die a hideous execution. He did choose to be one of Je...

“First Coming” He did not wait till the world was ready, till men and nations were at peace. He came when the Heavens were unsteady, and prisoners cried out for release. He did not wait for the perfect time. He came when the need was deep and great. He dined with sinners in all their grime, turned water into wine. He did not wait till hearts were pure. In joy he came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt, to a world like ours, of anguished shame he came, and his Light would not go out. He came to a world which did not mesh, to heal its tangles, shield its scorn. In the mystery of the Word made Flesh the Maker of the stars was born. We cannot wait till the world is sane to raise our songs with joyful voice, for to share our grief, to touch our pain, He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice! Madeleine L’Engle. From A Cry Like a Bell, 1987 Image Credit: Pixabay