I wanted to depart from the stories of my summer journeys for a moment to remember a Saint and Martyr. We don't often follow the calendar of saints in the United Methodist Church, but as this is day is set aside by our mother church for one of only two recognized 20th century martyrs, Jonathan Daniels, I feel that it is appropriate.
Jonathan Daniels was an Episcopal seminarian, killed for his work in the American civil rights movement. His death helped to galvanize support for the civil rights movement within the Episcopal church. He graduated from Virginia Military Institute the year I was born 1961.
On Friday August 13th Jonathan Daniels and others went to the town of Fort Deposit to join in picketing three local businesses. On Saturday they were arrested and held in the county jail in Hayneville for six days until they were bailed out. After their release on Friday August 20th, four of them undertook to enter a local shop, and were met at the door by a man with a shotgun who told them to leave or be shot. After a brief confrontation, he aimed the gun at a young girl in the party, and Jonathan pushed her out of the way and took the blast of the shotgun himself. He was killed instantly.
Because Bernard of Clairvaux is remembered on August 20, Jonathan Daniels is remembered on the day of his arrest, August 14th.
Here is his prayer:
O God of Justice and compassion, who put down the proud and the mighty from their place, and lift up the poor and afflicted: We give you thanks for your faithful witness Jonathan Myrick Daniels, who, in the midst of injustice and violence, risked and gave his life for another; and we pray that we, following his example, may make no peace with oppression; through Jesus Christ the just one: who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Until next time...Grace & Peace


