In 998, a ruthless Viking army raided the Dorset countryside in southwest England near the rural Cernel monastery. Forty-something-year-old Aelfric, a monk at Cernel, responded to this national—and, to him, universal—crisis by creating three homiletic collections (about 120 sermons), the first English translations of passages from several Old Testament books, pastoral letters and other literary works. Aelfric explained his purpose in writing and preaching:

“People especially need good teaching at this time, which is the ending of this world.”

In 1005, Aelfric moved 85 miles northeast to Eynsham, where he served as abbot until his death around 1014. When Viking invaders burned neighboring Oxford in 1009, Aelfric may have even stood in the monastery yard and witnessed Oxford’s smoke.

So what can we learn from Aelfric that will help our outlook today?

In a time of terrorism and political unrest, Aelfric’s faithful outlook remained positive, and his works focused on God’s mercy. Or, put it another way, a God-centered perspective working to extending the Kingdom in practical, faithful ways.

Sermon for Pentecost Sunday

“The love that loves God is not idle. Instead, it is strong and works great things always. And if love isn’t willing to work, then it isn’t love. God’s love must be seen in the actions of our mouths and minds and bodies. A person must fulfill God’s word with goodness.”

Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

“Christ commanded us to be kind to others always, with all goodness, just as God himself is. The person who causes others stress is not being kind. But the unmerciful don’t hesitate for a moment as they pile heavy burdens on the backs of those they know. They’re mean. They’re unfair. They’re cruel. They rob the poor, yet look at how they dare desire a life of luxury for themselves. They’re never willing to acknowledge their oppression of the poor. They won’t admit it. Bosses who don’t permit those working under them to know kindness during this life of labor should never themselves enjoy lives of luxury, because they could easily be kind to their workers every day of every week. Then management would also have some kindness in their souls. God loves it when a leader is gentle towards others in the daily hardships, the many heavy taxes, and the unending laws that all humanity must know and endure, but God detests those who oppress others. God loves kind-hearted people. God loves mercy. So be kind to others.”

Sermon for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost

“Here in the English nation we feebly keep the laws God established to guide and instruct those who love him. Instead, we create for ourselves entirely new laws, totally different from those God himself taught. With our self-will we rebel against all wisdom. By trampling on God’s laws with bad behavior and by despising our Lord, as we are doing, we will make the way very difficult for ourselves. Remember Christ’s disciples. They rowed their heavy ships to shore, then abandoned everything to follow Christ.”

Read more at the Christian History website.