08/27/2026
From the Pastor: Thursday, August 27, 2026 Good Morning! Today I want to share a story with you about a Roman Senator, Cincinnatus. If his name sounds familiar, it is because the city of Cincinnati, Ohio is named for him. He is important because our founding fathers knew the story of this Roman Statesman because they had studied the ancient governments of Greece and Rome – It is one of the reasons they could set up our government of “We the People…” (They had studied about the Greek City States and their efforts to govern themselves…they had studied what worked and what didn’t.) Anyway, if you google his name this is what you will find: Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus was a Roman patrician, statesman, and military leader of the early Roman Republic who became a legendary figure of Roman virtue—particularly civic virtue—by the time of the late Republic. (He was born in 519 B.C.) (thank you to Eric Metaxas for this ):
“In the museum Nacional del Prado in Madrid there hangs a famous 1806 painting by Juan Antonio Ribeiro. It depicts Cincinnatus at his farm, where Roman leaders have just arrived to entreat him to accept the role of Roman dictator. The Roman Senate, facing a crisis, has just elected him to serve as dictator for the typical 6th month term. (We should be clear that the term dictator did not have the negative connotations it does today. It was a carefully prescribed 6-month term and was required only in situations of crisis.) Cincinnatus embodied the Roman ideal of the aristocrat who serves out of duty. He did not wish to leave his farm or to be dictator, but when called upon to serve, he answered. According to the Roman historian LIVY, the senators who came to inform him that he had been appointed dictator arrived at his farm to find him out the fields, plowing. When Cincinnatus heard their message, he immediately called for his toga, which signified the acceptance of his new role. He put on the ceremonial garment at once, at which point all the senators who were there immediately hailed him as dictator - and off to Rome he went. Cincinnati's first act as dictator was to call up every able-bodied man to fight. He then heroically led them himself in fighting the Aequi. All of this argues for his nobility, he did his duty for Rome despite preferring not to. At the time of the American Revolution, the founders looked to ancient Greece and Rome as models of what it meant to have a democracy, and therefore when Washington accepted the call of the Continental Congress to lead the continental army, he brought to mind Cincinnatus. But it was what Cincinnatus did afterward - and what Washington would do afterward - that made the historical connection between them far more powerful an act and made both of them infinitely more noteworthy. History tells us that Cincinnatus led the Romans to victory quickly and immediately resigned as soon as he had accomplished his mission, a mere 15 days after he had lifted his hand from the plow. Though elected for six months, he nonetheless voluntarily gave up his unlimited power as dictator and returned to his farm. For this extraordinary act he was instantly and evermore hailed as a hero and model of Roman duty and citizenship. Other than Cincinnatus, no one in history had ever done such a thing. Power was something everyone craved and sought. It was not something anyone gave up voluntarily (sound familiar?) but Cincinnatus put the Roman Republic before his own ambitions, becoming an unparalleled hero of civic virtue.”
Is it any wonder that the people saw Cincinnatus in George Washington? George Washington just wanted to go back home to his farm at Mount Vernon, when his duty as military leader was done… and that is what he did. He did his civic duty and then went home. When he was called upon once again to be our first President, he agreed, gave up his own ambitions, and did his civic duty… but 8 years was enough… (Do you realize he set a precedent of term limitations, to return to his former life?) Is it any wonder he was so in touch with the people, he just wanted a simple life. I did not know about Cincinnatus until I read his story – Did you? We are so blessed by the legacy of our Founding Fathers… I cannot imagine knowing all that they knew and put into practice as they formed our government. But we can learn. Peace and blessings dear friends! Have a great day… Keep praying as people cross your minds, as you listen to the news, as you go about your daily tasks. Hugs!!
