Historical Setting: Northumbria, 793 C.E. Religious rule is narrow. To a monk bound to the community by the Rule it may appear that another’s relationship with God is no relationship at all. Brother Ealdwin knows my robe is borrowed and assumes I am spiritually adrift because I don’t seem to value the Benedictine Rule.Continue reading “#73.4 Wednesday, October 8, 2025”
Author Archives: J.K. Marlin
#73.3 Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Historical Setting: Lindisfarne of Northumbria, 793 C.E. As we walk with the visitors to the causeway, I’m hearing more divisive talk of the old debate. The patron I walk with tells me of a monk at Jarrow who wrote a book of the history of these people affirming the singular righteousness of Rome. It’sContinue reading “#73.3 Tuesday, October 7, 2025”
#73.2, Thursday, October 2, 2025
Historical Setting: Lindisfarne of Northumbria, 793 C.E. Ealdwin and I are washing the dishes and I find it is a perfectly unsanctified time to ask Brother Ealdwin the questions I have about the Irish traditions of this monastery. “I’m hearing the patrons and the pilgrims talking among themselves, cursing an Irish root ofContinue reading “#73.2, Thursday, October 2, 2025”
#73.1 Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Historical Setting: Lindisfarne, 793 C.E. The reading of the scholar’s letter concludes, then the bishop blesses the squash soup such as it is – without salt. The benches are reset to face the dining board and the held breath of long-listening to the bishop exhales, relaxed now. Regardless, the fasting monks attend their prayersContinue reading “#73.1 Wednesday, October 1, 2025”
#72.13, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne I keep awakening in new times always born into a future and yet remembering the past. Old people know this well. We who lived in the past, also live here and now in this time we once called future. Now this future where we are, is harder to navigateContinue reading “#72.13, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025”
#72.12, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne Before Alcuin signs off, he offers his own personal and political act in response to this tragedy. The scholar adds, “I plan to go to him, [the king] and if I can then do anything for you about the boys who have been carried off by the pagans asContinue reading “#72.12, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025”
#72.11, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne The patrons and politicians, monks and pilgrims all expect to hear the scholar proclaim God’s side in the issue of the burial of a sinner among the monks. Alcuin’s letter does address sins as personal displays of wealth and drunkenness, but he doesn’t really speak to that one big issueContinue reading “#72.11, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025”
#72.10, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne As the messenger, I told Alcuin only that the Norse raiders had a ready market for fine fabrics. The scholar wrote, “Do not glory in the vanity of dress; that is cause for shame, not boasting, in priests and servants of God.”[footnote] The richly dressed patrons seated inContinue reading “#72.10, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025”
#72.9, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne The purpose of this gathering is to hear the letter read from the bishop’s friend, the scholar for the court of the Frankish King Charles, who, at this time, seems to be a greater king rising over all the kings of Francia and maybe even Northumbria and all theContinue reading “#72.9, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025”
#72.8, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025
Historical Setting: 793 C.E. Lindisfarne The bishop is reading the gospel. Everyone agrees it should be done as grueling as it is. Now there is wonder – is this the reading of only one gospel? Or is the reading of “the gospel” the whole four of them? Two hours into it, with only aContinue reading “#72.8, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025”
Lazarus Ink 