Queen Elizabeth II

 

Three years ago this week Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96 surrounded by her family. In the year of her Platinum Jubilee, the longest serving monarch passed away at her beloved Scottish estate, Balmoral. 

Buckingham Palace made the simple announcement at 6.30pm on Thursday 8 September 2022, stating: "The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon. The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."

For 70 years Her Majesty The Queen had been the centre of our culture. The Queen’s image has adorned billions of coins and banknotes and sat proudly on letters carrying good news and bad. Her name has been given to places near and far, buildings, ships and train lines. She sat for hundreds of portraits and inspired thousands more. She had been imitated more than any other public figure, BUT there was only one original. 

On Friday 3 June 2022 Stephen Cottrell, the Archbishop of York delivered the sermon in St Paul's Cathedral during a service to mark and celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and the very original person she was. On that occasion he reminded us that, “Jesus is worth following because Jesus shows us who God is, and what our humanity could be. And there are many occasions in the gospels where we see Jesus Himself, faithful to His vocation, seeking out places of replenishing so that He can learn God’s way. The purpose of the Christian faith is to know and to do God’s will.

For me, the best leaders are those who know how to be led. People who lead for others, not themselves. People whose heart’s desire is to serve the common good and build up the common life; who don’t try to do it all themselves, or act in their own strength alone; people who take a longer view; and who seek out places of replenishing, even places where they might learn the mind of Christ.

And I say this today, knowing that in Her Majesty the Queen we see an example of this kind of service; a staunch constancy and a steadfast consistency; a faithfulness to God, an obedience to a vocation that is the bedrock of her life.”

The Archbishop concluded by saying that, “Sometimes people say to me that the Christian faith is just a prop. I couldn't agree more. I’m not ashamed to say I lean on Jesus Christ, that I'm trying to live close to his heart.  That I need his wisdom and his hope. And if you will forgive such presumption, this is what I also see in Her Majesty the Queen.” 

So at we remember that historic and emotional time, and as we are living in a time of uncertainty and challenge, we would do well to consider where we will find the replenishing we need. What we saw in Her Majesty the Queen was someone who was able to serve our nation faithfully because of her faith in Jesus Christ. Perhaps there is no better way of marking her death than by doing the same ourselves.

Hymn words

My faith has found a resting place

Not in device nor creed

I trust the Ever-living One

His wounds for me shall plead

Enough for me that Jesus saves

This ends my fear and doubt

A sinful soul I come to Him

He'll never cast me out

DAILY MESSAGES WITH MEANING (09/09/25)

Written by PETER FRANCIS 

All photos courtesy of Unsplash