Jesus died on this day in the year 33 – or at least, this is one of two days proposed by Sir Isaac Newton, who took some time off from discovering gravity to research the dates when the Jewish Passover fell on a Friday during the reign of Pontius Pilate. Today, 3 April, is also the favoured date of a modern physicist and an astronomer, because there was a partial eclipse of the moon that evening, which may explain why the apostle Peter talked about ‘the moon being turned to blood’ when he preached to a crowd a few weeks after the crucifixion. Newton’s preferred date was 23 April in the year 34, which may also have been a Friday Passover.
Martin Luther King Jr gave his last speech today in 1968 at a church in Memphis, Tennessee. He was in town to support the Memphis sanitation strike, but at the end of his speech, he spoke about threats to his life in language borrowed from the life of Moses, who saw the Promised Land from a mountain, but died before he reached it. The day after the speech, King was assassinated in Memphis.
‘He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land. So I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.’ Martin Luther King Jr
The English poet George Herbert was born, one of 10 children, in Montgomery, in the border country between Wales and England, today in 1593. His mother was a patron of the poet John Donne (among other poets and artists), and Donne became godson to young George, which was a good beginning for a future poet.
Since, Lord, to thee
A narrow way and little gate
Is all the passage, on my infancie
Thou didst lay hold, and antedate
My faith in me.
George Herbert, Holy Baptisme II
It is the feast day of St Richard of Chichester, an English reforming bishop of the 13th century who stamped out moneymaking and nepotism among his clergy. He died today in 1253 and his shrine in Chichester Cathedral was a pilgrimage destination until it was wrecked by Henry VIII. He is best known now for the modern version of his popular prayer:
Day by day,
Dear Lord, of thee three things I pray:
To see thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
Follow thee more nearly,
Day by day.
Prayer of St Richard of Chichester (1931 version)
Image: Georgie Pauwels