March 3

There is a proposal in the Episcopal Church to create a feast day for Origen. Though we do not know the exact date of his death, in 253, and though a day has not yet been set, I’m picking today to celebrate this saint. Origen was an Egyptian theologian who had a powerful impact on the development of Christian theology, though he has been sidelined for his belief in universal salvation and the pre-existence of souls, among other things. He argued against a strictly literalist interpretation of the Bible as well as against pagan detractors of Christianity who spread disinformation about the early church. Origen included women among his students, wrote prolifically, and came up with one of the first list of New Testament books of the Bible considered “canonical,” which influenced the formation of the Bible we have today. If he had not been condemned as a heretic by later theologians, the development of Christian theology might have looked very different. 

On this day in 1939, Mohandas Gandhi, in order to protest British colonial rule of India, began a hunger strike. This was part of his non-violent resistance philosophy of satyagraha, or “truth force.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King would later adopt a similar phrase: “soul force.” Later in life Gandhi said that he read the words of the Sermon on the Mount every day. 

Today is World Wildlife Day, established by the United Nations to raise awareness of wildlife in general and endangered species in particular. 

On this day in 1873, the United States passed the Comstock Act, which made it illegal to send “obscene or immoral” material through the United States Postal Service. While it has been used to combat child pornography, it has also been used to censor free speech and restrict access to abortion and educational material. 

Today also marks the first major Women’s Suffrage March on Washington D.C., in 1913. 

Reflection: 

Arguing against literalism, Origen said: 

Prayer: Author of All that is True, Desire of our mind and spirit, we know the truth will set us free; liberate all beings, human and more-than-human, with your truth. Amen.