Saturday Read: August 1 - The Month Named for an Emperor
August arrives, named for Rome's first emperor. Unlike July, which honored Julius Caesar posthumously, August celebrated a living ruler. In 8 BC, the Roman Senate renamed Sextilis (the sixth month in Rome's original calendar) to Augustus in honor of Octavian, who had taken the title "Augustus" meaning "revered one." The Senate wanted to flatter him - his month needed to be as long as Julius Caesar's July, so they added a day, stealing it from February. Imperial ego shaped the calendar you still use today.
Augustus ruled when Jesus was born. Luke's Gospel records: "In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world" (Luke 2:1). This census forced Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, fulfilling Micah's prophecy that the Messiah would be born there. The most powerful man in the world issued a decree for administrative purposes, unknowingly serving God's plan. Augustus thought he controlled history; God was using him to position a teenage girl in the right town for the Savior's birth.
August was the month of Augustus's greatest victories. On August 1, 30 BC, he defeated Mark Antony at Alexandria, making himself sole ruler of Rome after decades of civil war. Romans celebrated the entire month as Augustalia, honoring their emperor's triumph. The month symbolized unchallenged power, unified empire, Pax Romana enforced by military might.
But in Christian history, August 1 marks something different. In 1714, Queen Anne of England died on this date, taking with her the "Schism Bill" that would have crushed religious Dissenters - Baptists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists who refused to conform to the established Anglican Church. For years afterward, these Nonconformists celebrated August 1 as their "Protestant Passover," a day of deliverance from religious persecution. One monarch's death protected thousands from oppression.
The contrast is stark: Augustus's August celebrated imperial power consolidating control; England's Dissenters celebrated August releasing them from state-enforced religion. One month, two opposing meanings - human authority demanding conformity versus freedom to worship according to conscience.
Paul addressed this tension directly. Writing to Christians under Roman rule, he commanded: "Everyone must submit to governing authorities, for all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God" (Romans 13:1). This wasn't endorsement of Rome's brutality. It was recognition that even unjust rulers operate under God's sovereignty. Augustus thought his power was absolute; in reality, he was fulfilling God's purposes without knowing it.
Jesus demonstrated this when Pilate interrogated him. The Roman governor declared: "Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?" Jesus replied: "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above" (John 19:10-11). Pilate thought he controlled the situation. Jesus knew that Pilate's authority - and his decision to crucify Jesus - ultimately served God's redemptive plan.
As August begins, you're still living in Ordinary Time on the church calendar - the long stretch between Pentecost and Advent with no major festivals, just steady weeks of faithfulness. It's easy to treat August as unremarkable continuation of July, same summer heat, same routines, nothing special. But every month offers fresh opportunity to trust God's sovereignty over circumstances that seem random.
August reminds you that earthly power isn't ultimate. Emperors rename months after themselves, but their empires collapse. Queens support oppressive laws, but their deaths bring deliverance. Rulers think they control history, but God is working purposes they can't perceive. Whatever authority you're under - employer, government, institution - their power is derivative and temporary. God's authority is original and eternal.
This month, remember whose you are. You might live under earthly authorities, but your ultimate allegiance is to God. You might follow human rules, but God's character defines right and wrong. You might respect earthly power, but you don't worship it. Augustus wanted a month bearing his name. God gave him one, then used it to bring his Son into the world. Human power serves divine purposes, whether it realizes this or not.
