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What could a stylus-wielding 10th-century Anglo-Saxon Benedictine monk teach third-millennium Blackberry-networking digerati?

In 998, a ruthless Viking army raided the Dorset countryside in southwest England near the rural Cernel (now Cerne Abbas) monastery. Forty-something-year-old Ælfric, 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 pedagogical materials: a grammar, a glossary, and a colloquy. He also taught novices and preached the gospel in the local parish church. Ælfric explained his purpose: "People especially need good teaching at this time, which is the ending of this world." In 1005, Ælfric moved 85 miles northeast to Eynsham, where he served as abbot until his death around 1014. When Viking invaders burned neighboring Oxford in 1009, Ælfric may have stood in the monastery yard and witnessed Oxford's smoke.

In a time of terrorism and political unrest, Ælfric's faithful outlook remained positive, and his works focused on God's mercy. His beautifully rhythmical, enduring prose teaches love as a verb, obedience as joy, and humility and kindness as synonyms. Here are some excerpts from his sermons:

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.

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.

Without humility no person can thrive in the Lord … . We don't need to climb up steep mountains the hard way to worship God, as if he is nearer to us on a high mountain rather than down in the deep valley. The soaring mountain represents pride's elevated, arrogant thoughts, and the valley symbolizes humility, which our Lord loves. Wemust worship with true humility if we want our heavenly Father to hear us, because God lives in the highest, most exalted place, yet he has regard for the deep down humble. God is always near people who sincerely call to him in their trouble. We don't ever need to wander far and wide seeking our benevolent God. Keep focusing on the indwelling presence of God's merciful mind. Keep acting toward others with Christ's kindness. Then God is always present in us, no matter where in the world we live.

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