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15/03/2021
A reflection and prayer to start the day with Rev David Campton
Last on
Mon 15 Mar 2021
05:43
±«Óătv Radio 4
PRAYER FOR THE DAY - Script - 15th March 2021
Good morning.Â
And Ho! Ho! Ho! to you all… In the phrase invariably associated with a saint reputedly born this day in 270 AD in Myra in what is nowadays, with a certain appropriateness, Turkey. I speak of course of Saint Nicholas, he who ultimately became the be-whiskered, red-garbed Santa Claus, but who was actually Bishop of his home town and patron saint of an impressive range of professions including sailors, pawnbrokers, archers, repentant thieves (I don’t know whether there is another patron for unrepentant thieves), brewers, unmarried people, and students…Â
His ultimate transmogrification into Santa was because of certain legends about him being involved in secret gift-giving, getting people out of difficult situations, but we really know very little about him because no documents written by him survive and no contemporaneous records mention him. He is said to have been an attendee at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 which ultimately resulted in the so-called Nicene Creed, and there is one story that says he was temporarily defrocked and imprisoned during the Council for crossing the council floor to slap the heretic, Arius, behaviour you might think of as unbecoming in a saint and certainly for jolly Saint Nick… But again we don’t know whether that story is true either. Â
But at least he’s remembered… I doubt that anyone will be talking about me 1800 years from now… But while I am remembered I wonder what stories people will tell?
Gracious God, may we be noted more for our generosity of spirit, and willingness to help those in need, than our tendency to slap others down, however we may differ with them. AMEN
And Ho! Ho! Ho! to you all… In the phrase invariably associated with a saint reputedly born this day in 270 AD in Myra in what is nowadays, with a certain appropriateness, Turkey. I speak of course of Saint Nicholas, he who ultimately became the be-whiskered, red-garbed Santa Claus, but who was actually Bishop of his home town and patron saint of an impressive range of professions including sailors, pawnbrokers, archers, repentant thieves (I don’t know whether there is another patron for unrepentant thieves), brewers, unmarried people, and students…Â
His ultimate transmogrification into Santa was because of certain legends about him being involved in secret gift-giving, getting people out of difficult situations, but we really know very little about him because no documents written by him survive and no contemporaneous records mention him. He is said to have been an attendee at the First Council of Nicaea in 325 which ultimately resulted in the so-called Nicene Creed, and there is one story that says he was temporarily defrocked and imprisoned during the Council for crossing the council floor to slap the heretic, Arius, behaviour you might think of as unbecoming in a saint and certainly for jolly Saint Nick… But again we don’t know whether that story is true either. Â
But at least he’s remembered… I doubt that anyone will be talking about me 1800 years from now… But while I am remembered I wonder what stories people will tell?
Gracious God, may we be noted more for our generosity of spirit, and willingness to help those in need, than our tendency to slap others down, however we may differ with them. AMEN
Broadcast
- Mon 15 Mar 2021 05:43±«Óătv Radio 4
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