We hope that you will join us on every Sunday this June as we gather to worship King Jesus. And throughout the month, we also invite you to remember the faithful testimony of saints and martyrs who proclaimed Jesus to the end.
There are many great men and women to remember, honor, and celebrate during this month of June. We aim to be governed by a faith and by a philosophy that spans throughout time and culture, honoring men and women from different ages, with different outlooks on the world, all united by One Spirit in humility before King Jesus.
Today, on this 1st day of June, we remember Justin, Teacher of the Faith and Martyr at Rome, c. 165.
Writing in the late 2nd century, Methodius of Olympus remembered Justin, “Justin of Neapolis, a man who was not far separated from the apostles either in age or excellence.” Rod Bennett comments, “Justin found Christ while still a philosopher and remained a philosopher to the end. For Justin the good news about Jesus was the missing piece of Socrates’ puzzle–and philosophy turned out to be the schoolmaster that brought him to Christ. He took up the ministry pioneered by Paul at Mars Hill, and [quoting early 2nd century historian, Eusebius Pamphilus] “wearing the garb of a philosopher he proclaimed the divine message, and contended by means of his writings on behalf of the Faith.” Not surprisingly, this mission eventually cost Justin his life and earned him that glorious title [“Martyr”] which popular usage has affixed to his own forever as a kind of surname.”
This is the wise philosopher, Justin of Neapolis, “Justin Martyr”, whom we remember on this 1st day of June. After encountering an old Christian man on a walk in the wilderness, a nameless old man who testified of the greatest philosopher who ever lived, Jesus Christ, Justin saw reason, he turned around, and he followed Jesus the rest of his life until his martyrdom in Rome in A.D. 165. Justin wrote,
“When [this old man] had spoken these and many other things, which there is no time for mentioning at present, he went away, bidding me attend to them; and I have not seen him since. But straightaway a flame was kindled in my soul; and a love of the prophets, and of those men who are friends of Christ, possessed me; and whilst revolving his words in my mind, I found this philosophy alone to be safe and profitable. Thus, and for this reason, I am a philosopher. Moreover, I would wish that all, making a resolution similar to my own, do not keep themselves away from the words of the Savior. For they possess a terrible power in themselves, and are sufficient to inspire those who turn aside from the path of rectitude with awe; while the sweetest rest is afforded those who make a diligent practice of them. If, then, you have any concern for yourself, and if you are eagerly looking for salvation, and if you believe in God, you may–since you are not indifferent to the matter–become acquainted with the Christ of God, and, after being initiated, live a happy life.”
Amen and amen.
Won’t you join saints throughout the world and throughout the ages and remember these holy saints and martyrs during this month of June?
I pray that you will.
Yours ever,
Fr Chris+