大象传媒

Good morning听

听

According to legend it was on this day in the year 1040 that Lady Godiva rode naked on horseback through the streets of Coventry.

听

Like all good legends it鈥檚 probably a mixture of historical fact and subsequent embellishment. Godiva was the real life wife of Leofric, the Earl of Mercia. He was certainly one of the richest and most powerful men in England back in the 11th century. The story goes that Lady Godiva was moved by the plight of the poor and begged her husband to reduce the taxes of the people. Exasperated with her pestering he said that he would only do so if she dared to ride naked through the marketplace. It seems she did just that, helping the local citizens, but at the same time preserving her modesty by loosening her hair so that it covered all of her body.

听

If the story is true, then I suspect the good Earl never anticipated that his wife would accept the challenge. In the Bible Jesus gives more credit to the people that he meets. He expects to be taken seriously in the Sermon on the Mount when he tells them not to criticise others unless they鈥檙e ready to be judged by the same criteria. He is serious when he warns them that they cannot love both God and money and he anticipates obedience when he tells them to go and love their enemies.

听

These words of Jesus are as demanding now as when they were first spoken.听The poor of Coventry gave thanks that Lady Godiva rose to her husband鈥檚 challenge. But I wonder how the world might rejoice today, if we found these words of Jesus difficult, but attempted them all the same.

听听听

听

Dear God

Today, we do not ask

that you would accomplish for us what seems so unattainable

Rather we offer you our diligence and effort听

And ask that you might honour our endeavours with success.

Amen