July 17

Today in the year 180, twelve martyrs from the town of Scilla in Tunisia were executed in an early Roman persecution. They were five women and seven men, and made the case that they lived quiet, orderly lives. But when asked to swear by the name of the Emperor, they refused, and were put to death. 

Today is a Feast Day, in the Episcopal Church, of William White, who died on this day in 1836. He was the first Bishop of Pennsylvania Diocese and a founding figure of the Episcopalian Church in the United States during the Revolutionary War. 

Today is also the Feast Day of Pavel Peter Gojdič, a monk and bishop of the Slovak Greek Catholic church, who not only rescued over a thousand Jews from the Holocaust, but also defied the authoritarian communist government of Czechoslovakia and refused to convert to Russian Orthodoxy, for which he was imprisoned and tortured. He died in prison on this day in 1960, honored by Jews and Christians alike. 

Today is the World Day of International Justice. The designation of this day highlights how international justice tribunals and courts have brought and continue to bring justice for the victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The fascist regime of the United States has not recognized the authority of the ICC because the ICC has justly accused Benjamin Netanyahu of war crimes, and this regime claims a license to commit its own acts of atrocity against asylum-seekers in violation of international agreements. 

Reflection:

When asked to swear by the Emperor, one of the twelve Scillitan martyrs named Speratus said:

“Equality” by Maya Angelou:

Prayer: God who no human eyes can see, yet who is All — bring equality to your children, and a respect for all life. Amen.