St. Dunstan’s Day,

Today is St. Dunstan's Day.  St. Dunstan’s Day is named for the British politician who, having slighted the king, found himself banished to a monastery in Belgium. There he committed himself to Christ’s cause, eventually returning to England and becoming archbishop of Canterbury. Dunstan died May 19, 988. Three hundred years later another archbishop of Canterbury, William Courtenay, ruled. Courtenay was outraged by John Wycliffe, "We are saved," he said, "by faith in Christ, Scripture alone being our authority." He pre-Luthered Luther, and thus is called The Morning Star of the Reformation. Finally Courtenay summoned a special committee to examine Wycliffe’s teachings, to condemn and destroy the Bible teacher. They convened on St. Dunstan’s Day, May 19, 1382. While they were gathered a powerful earthquake hit.  The committee members were afraid and thought they better leave Wycliffe alone.  But the archbishop’s meeting has ever since been known in English history as the Earthquake Synod. Reminds me of the Scripture: "God is our refuge and strength, a well-proven help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea" (Psalm 46:1-2).