Anselm and Slavery + Prince

No slave is greater than his master, nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. (John 13:16)

St. Anselm died 907 years ago today. In 1102, he presided over a church council in London, which condemned slavery. “Let no one hereafter presume to engage in that nefarious trade in which hitherto in England men were sold like brute animals.”

St. Anselm tried to bring an end to one man enslaving another. But that didn’t nullify what St. Paul had declared, namely that Christ’s death and resurrection made us slaves of God. Christ showed us true human freedom: uncompromising obedience to God.

Lord Jesus washed the feet. Then He submitted to a cruel death. In between, He told them: I tell you now before it happens, so that when I die on the cross you will not just think: An innocent man has been unjustly punished! You will not simply think: A righteous man has suffered with inspiring courage!

Yes, you will think these things. But also you will know, when I die on the cross: This is the power of God and the wisdom of God. This is the Father reconciling the world to Himself, through the perfect obedience of His only-begotten Son.

Our Lord, our Master never drove an Audi. He never had a hot wife. He never “had it going on,” as the world judges such things.

We, His slaves, His messengers–what should we expect out of life? Suffering now. Eternal glory when everything is said and done.

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prince prince