In the Abbey before today's service. The island has been very busy today. Sunshine and then it’s St. Columba’s feast day. The Sunday morning service at the Abbey marked the 1450 anniversary of Columba’s arrival from Ireland at what is now called St. Columba’s Bay. In his sermon, historian/ordained minister Ian Bradley, however, admitted that very likely Columba arrived on mainland of Scotland in 1463, and not on Iona until about 1478.
Legend tells us that every day Columba recited, in three groups of 50, all 150 psalms. Thankfully, today we were only offered one, Psalm 34. According to Columba’s biographer Adomnan (625-704), Columba was copying verse 7 of that psalm when he stopped, said that was enough, and died soon afterward.
“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.” Feels like a good ending to me.
Columba lived and died reciting and copying the psalms. We don’t have to do that, but then, we’re not saints. As Ian Bradley reminded us, “We may never become saints, but we can all be pilgrims on our continuing journey to God.”
Legend tells us that every day Columba recited, in three groups of 50, all 150 psalms. Thankfully, today we were only offered one, Psalm 34. According to Columba’s biographer Adomnan (625-704), Columba was copying verse 7 of that psalm when he stopped, said that was enough, and died soon afterward.
“The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.” Feels like a good ending to me.
Columba lived and died reciting and copying the psalms. We don’t have to do that, but then, we’re not saints. As Ian Bradley reminded us, “We may never become saints, but we can all be pilgrims on our continuing journey to God.”
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