Sixty years. We won’t see another diamond jubilee in our lifetime. As the amazing pictures of the flotilla of boats reached our screens yesterday, the pageantry of the occasion reflected on the worthiness of the subject. And the subject was the Sovereign.
But a servant before a Sovereign. When a young Elizabeth II promised to ‘always work to advance the happiness and prosperity of my peoples’ in 1952, she meant what she said. She has kept her word. I’m not particularly a monarchist and hers is not a justifiable position in a truly democratic society, but the majority of her subjects would have it no other way.
She has brought purpose and meaning to a ‘United Kingdom' through her service. She has brought a richness and colour to our nation. She has reminded us of our values and beliefs. Her 2011 Christmas message 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 the world a unique person - neither a philosopher nor a general, important though they are, but a Saviour, with the power to forgive.
In the last verse of this beautiful carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem, there's a prayer:
‘O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray, cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.’
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.”
We do well to remember her prayer, as we remember all she has done for us these past 60 years.
But a servant before a Sovereign. When a young Elizabeth II promised to ‘always work to advance the happiness and prosperity of my peoples’ in 1952, she meant what she said. She has kept her word. I’m not particularly a monarchist and hers is not a justifiable position in a truly democratic society, but the majority of her subjects would have it no other way.
She has brought purpose and meaning to a ‘United Kingdom' through her service. She has brought a richness and colour to our nation. She has reminded us of our values and beliefs. Her 2011 Christmas message 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 the world a unique person - neither a philosopher nor a general, important though they are, but a Saviour, with the power to forgive.
In the last verse of this beautiful carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem, there's a prayer:
‘O Holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray, cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.’
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.”
We do well to remember her prayer, as we remember all she has done for us these past 60 years.
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