大象传媒

A reflection and prayer marking the death of Her Majesty the Queen with the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell.

Good morning.

When you meet a member of the Royal Family, the custom is to bow or curtsey, showing respect to the office and regard to the inhabitant of the office. I remember the first time I met Her Majesty the Queen, feeling anxious about getting this bit of the protocol right.

In church, however, something else happens: the one to whom we bend the knee, bends the knee to another: the carpenter from Nazareth, Jesus Christ the word made flesh.

In the Book of Common Prayer, the prayer set for the Queen - and now for our new King - specifically reminds them and us of a higher authority: that God is King of kings and Lord of lords; and that most telling phrase: the only Ruler of princes, whose eye beholds all of us whatever our estate or place.

I suspect that this prayer brought the Queen enormous comfort and challenge. The challenge of accountability that we all face, having to give an account for how we鈥檝e lived our lives, what we鈥檝e done with our gifts, and how we鈥檝e responded (or not!) to the calls laid upon us. But also comfort; the comfort of knowing that burdens will be laid down, that ultimate responsibility lies elsewhere. Even for kings and queens.

So we pray today for the repose of the soul of her Majesty the Queen, thankful for her long and faithful reign, and pray for our new King that he may be given wisdom, grace and continued trust in God.

Amen