A Royal Reflection
I recently overheard a rather loud individual voice his negative opinion of the Queen. While everyone is entitled to an opinion it seemed that this man’s opinion said more about him than it did about the Queen. Certainly the outpouring of grief for so many should at least see people respond with the compassion so often expressed by the Queen herself.
The Queen held a very important place in the Church of England and Anglican Church of Australia. At her coronation one of the responsibilities conferred on her was Supreme Governor of the Church of England. There was a remarkable line in the service of her coronation about the Bible given to her as the “rule for the whole of life and government of Christian princes’…the most valuable thing that the world affords.” She clearly understood this.
In her Christmas message 2002 she said, “I know just how much I rely on my faith to guide me through the good times and tough times. Each day is a new beginning. I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right; to take the long view, to give of my best in all that the day brings, and to put my trust in God. I draw strength from the message of hope in the Christian gospel.”
In 2011 speaking of the beauty and brokenness of our world she said, “Although we are capable of great acts of kindness, history teaches us that we sometimes need saving from ourselves – from our recklessness or our greed. God sent into our world a unique person – neither a philosopher nor a general, important though they are, but a Saviour, with the power to forgive…It is my prayer that on this Christmas Day we might all find room in our lives for the message of the angels and for the love of God through Christ our Lord.
Her majesty, like all our leaders was regularly prayed for in churches across the world. What is not always understood is that she was herself a praying Queen whose faith in Jesus Christ was significant. The one who provided the prizes for her local Sunday school was also the queen who would sneak quietly into Church to pray for us. I pray the new King would prove a similar blessing. God save the king, as He has the Queen.