Presented to The Salvation Army Alberni Valley Ministries, 11 September 2022 by Major Michael Ramsay
Queen Elizabeth II was
Promoted to Glory this week. she had a strong Christian faith that has been
evident throughout her life. As well as her formal role as 'Defender of the
Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England', her personal faith was
evident even before she was crowned. 'Pray for me’, she urged us all prior to
her coronation, ‘that God may give me wisdom and strength to carry out the
solemn promises I shall be making, and that I may faithfully serve Him and you,
all the days of my life.’
The theme of service to
God and her neighbour even ran throughout her coronation ceremony and she
mentioned time and time again, very publicly throughout the years that she was
inspired by the sacrificial life of Jesus Christ, who said of himself: I ‘did
not come to be served, but to serve’. She said, ‘For me the teachings of Christ
and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I
try to lead my life.’
In 2008 the Queen encouraged
us all: ‘I hope that, like me, you will be comforted by the example of Jesus of
Nazareth who, often in circumstances of great adversity, managed to live an
outgoing, unselfish and sacrificial life … He makes it clear that genuine human
happiness and satisfaction lie more in giving than receiving; more in serving
than in being served.’
The Bible passage the
Queen referred to most often in her public addresses is the one we are looking
at briefly today. Luke 10:25-2 emphasises this theme of service. Most of what I
have to say here are words that God has previously shared through our ptg Queen.
In four of her Christmas broadcasts alone she has talked about the parable
Jesus told of a ‘Good Samaritan’.
In 1985 she encouraged
us that this passage ‘reminds us of our duty to our neighbour. We should try to
follow Christ's clear instruction at the end of that story: "Go and do
thou likewise".
In her 1989 reference
to this pericope she said, ‘Many of you will have heard the story of the Good
Samaritan, and of how Christ answered the question (from a clever lawyer who
was trying to catch him out) "who is my neighbour?" Jesus told of the
traveller who was mugged and left injured on the roadside where several
important people saw him, and passed by without stopping to help. His neighbour
was the man who did stop, cared for him, and made sure he was being well looked
after before he resumed his own journey.”
‘It's not very
difficult to apply that story to our own times and to work out that our
neighbours are those of our friends, or complete strangers, who need a helping
hand. Do you think they might also be some of the living species threatened by
spoiled rivers, or some of the children in places like Ethiopia and Sudan who don't
have enough to eat? … it would be splendid to think that in the last years of
the twentieth century [and even now into the 21st Century] Christ's
message about loving our neighbours as ourselves might at last be heeded.’
In 2004 Her Majesty
returned again to the same parable and, most recently, in her 2020 broadcast on
Christmas Eve from Windsor Castle, where she had been isolating with her
husband Prince Philip due to the Covid-19 pandemic, “In the United Kingdom and
around the world, people have risen magnificently to the challenges of the
year. And I am so proud and moved by this quiet, indomitable spirit. To our
young people in particular I say thank you for the part you have played.
“This year, we
celebrated International Nurses’ Day, on the 200th anniversary of the birth of
Florence Nightingale. As with other nursing pioneers like Mary Seacole,
Florence Nightingale shone a lamp of hope across the world.
“Today, our frontline
services still shine that lamp for us – supported by the amazing achievements
of modern science – and we owe them a debt of gratitude. We continue to be
inspired by the kindness of strangers and draw comfort that – even on the
darkest nights – there is hope in the new dawn. Jesus touched on this with the
parable of the Good Samaritan. The man who is robbed and left at the roadside
is saved by someone who did not share his religion or culture. This wonderful
story of kindness is still as relevant today.
Good Samaritans have
emerged across society showing care and respect for all, regardless of gender,
race or background, reminding us that each one of us is special and equal in
the eyes of God. The teachings of Christ have served as my inner light, as has
the sense of purpose we can find in coming together to worship.
“In November, we
commemorated another hero – though nobody knows his name. The Tomb of the
Unknown Warrior isn’t a large memorial, but everyone entering Westminster Abbey
has to walk around his resting place, honouring this unnamed combatant of the
First World War – a symbol of selfless duty and ultimate sacrifice.
“The Unknown Warrior
was not exceptional. That’s the point. He represents millions like him who
throughout our history have put the lives of others above their own, and will
be doing so today. For me, this is a source of enduring hope in difficult and
unpredictable times.
She continued on in her
Christmas address, “Of course, for many, this time of year will be tinged with
sadness: some mourning the loss of those dear to them, and others missing
friends and family members distanced for safety, when all they’d really want
for Christmas is a simple hug or a squeeze of the hand. If you are among them,
you are not alone, and let me assure you of my thoughts and prayers.
“The Bible tells how a
star appeared in the sky, its light guiding the shepherds and wise men to the
scene of Jesus’s birth. Let the light of Christmas – the spirit of
selflessness, love and above all hope – guide us in the times ahead. It is in
that spirit that I wish you a very happy Christmas.”
I am not going to add
very much to the Queen’s words here. I am just going to offer each and everyone
of you this encouragement. As you are a part of this team, you did not walk on
the other side of the road, you did not hide from your responsibility and your sense
of duty. You do not put your own welfare ahead of others. Everyday that you are
out there serving your neighbour in the name of Jesus – be it handing out food
and clothing, providing showers, shelter, interment services, visiting people
in hospitals (if you are allowed!) and care homes, running kids programs and
church services, serving at toy runs, providing school supplies and walking in
parades to raise awareness; anytime you do any of this and the much more that
each of you here does in Jesus’ Name, on a personal level you are doing as
doing this for God as well. And as such you are the good Samaritan.
This is my
encouragement to us today, let us keep on serving God by serving our neighbour
in His Name. Like the Queen, let us put duty and service to God and our
neighbour before all else in our lives. Let us love one another and let us work
together so that on that day when each of us meets our Maker, He will indeed
greet us with, ‘well done my good and faithful servant’
Let us pray
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