The Archbishop of Canterbury instructed attendees of the Queen’s state funeral that grief felt the world over arises from the late monarch’s “abundant life and loving service, now gone from us”.
In his sermon, Justin Welby talked about how the Queen pledged on her twenty first birthday to spend her life serving the UK and Commonwealth: “Rarely has such a promise been so well kept.”
Speaking to 2,000 individuals inside Westminster Abbey and tens of millions around the globe, the archbishop stated “few leaders receive the outpouring of love we have seen” within the lifetime of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Most Reverend Welby prayed for the royal household – grieving like so many different households who’ve misplaced family members lately – however on this case, “doing so in the brightest spotlight”.
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Justin Welby’s sermon in full
The sample for a lot of leaders is to be exalted in life and forgotten after demise. The sample for all who serve God – well-known or obscure, revered or ignored – is that demise is the door to glory.
Her Late Majesty famously declared in a twenty first birthday broadcast that her complete life could be devoted to serving the Nation and Commonwealth.
Rarely has such a promise been so effectively stored! Few leaders obtain the outpouring of affection we’ve seen.
Jesus – who in our studying doesn’t inform his disciples how you can observe, however who – stated: “I am the way, the truth and the life”. Her Late Majesty’s instance was not set via her place or her ambition, however via whom she adopted. I do know His Majesty shares the identical religion and hope in Jesus Christ as his mom; the identical sense of service and obligation.
In 1953 the Queen started her Coronation with silent prayer, simply there on the High Altar. Her allegiance to God was given earlier than any particular person gave allegiance to her. Her service to so many individuals on this nation, the Commonwealth and the world had its basis in her following Christ – God himself – who stated that he “came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many”.
People of loving service are uncommon in any stroll of life. Leaders of loving service are nonetheless rarer. But in all circumstances those that serve can be liked and remembered when those that cling to energy and privileges are forgotten.
The grief of at the present time – felt not solely by the late Queen’s household however throughout the nation, Commonwealth and world – arises from her ample life and loving service, now gone from us.
She was joyful, current to so many, touching a mess of lives.
We pray particularly for all her household, grieving as each household at a funeral – together with so many households around the globe who’ve themselves misplaced somebody lately – however on this household’s case, doing so within the brightest highlight.
May God heal their sorrow, and should the hole left of their lives be marked with recollections of pleasure and life.
Read extra:
Order of service for Queen’s state funeral
The historical past and significance of Queen’s ultimate resting place
Her Late Majesty’s broadcast throughout COVID lockdown ended with: “We will meet again”, phrases of hope from a tune of Vera Lynn. Christian hope means a sure expectation of one thing not but seen.
Christ rose from the useless and provides life to all, ample life now and life with God in eternity. As the Christmas carol says, “where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in”.
We will all face the merciful judgment of God: we will all share the Queen’s hope which in life and demise impressed her servant management.
Service in life, hope in demise. All who observe the Queen’s instance, and inspiration of belief and religion in God, can along with her say: “We will meet again.”
Source: information.sky.com”