God Saved the Queen - September 9
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 40, 54; PM Psalm 51; Job 29:1,31:24-40; Acts 15:12-21; John 11:30-44
Today’s Reflection
In the roll of the book it is written concerning me:
‘I love to do your will, O my God;
your law is deep in my heart.’”
I proclaimed righteousness in the great congregation;
behold, I did not restrain my lips;
and that, O Lord, you know.
Your righteousness have I not hidden in my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your deliverance;
I have not concealed your love and faithfulness from the great congregation.You are the Lord;
do not withhold your compassion from me;
let your love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever.Psalm 40: 9-12
Yesterday, news began to spread around the world that the earthly life of Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Northern Ireland had come to a close. She was at Balmoral, her retreat in Scotland, surrounded by all four of her children, and it is said that she died peacefully. As I was driving from Saint Stephen’s across town to do a home communion visit, I heard the news as it was announced on BBC Radio 4. As I arrived at our parishioners’ home, I found that they, too, were watching the news coverage on their television. We remembered Elizabeth in our prayers as we shared communion together.
Why do we Americans care about the life and death of a British monarch? Didn’t we break away to form the United States because we don’t want to be ruled by one? That is true of our nation, and also true as the Church of England parishes in the English colonies decided to break away to become our own church, the Episcopal Church—complete with a dramatic saga of sending men to Scotland to be ordained by their Scottish Episcopal bishops instead of Church of England ones.
Though our forebears made a conscious decision to create a new nation and a new church separate from those established in England, our forebears in the Episcopal faith very much wanted to continue on in the Anglican tradition of the Book of Common Prayers and all that goes with that. While our American Book of Common Prayer excludes prayers for the monarch, we do recognize that we are a part of a worldwide Anglican Communion and we are in communion with the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is appointed by the Head of the Church of England—who for 70 years, until yesterday, was Queen Elizabeth II.
As I read Psalm 40 this morning, with Elizabeth on my mind, I reflected on her roles as daughter, mother, sister, wife, and monarch, and how her responsibilities to uphold the United Kingdom and the Church of England sometimes complicated and added pressure in how she lived into her more personal roles. But we know that Elizabeth relied on her deep faith in Christ as she navigated her very distinctive role in the life of her family, her nation, and the world: “In the roll of the book it is written concerning me: ‘I love to do your will, O my God; your law is deep in my heart.’” The people of her nation and the Commonwealth are a “great congregation” like the one of which the Psalmist sings, and Elizabeth II was committed to living out a life of faith in Christ before the eyes of this great congregation.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, recalling his last visit with the Queen in June, said this:
“I came away thinking, ‘There is someone who has no fear of death, has hope in the future, knows the rock on which she stands.’” He said that their final conversation had included “a little bit of gossip” and “some very wise words.” “You felt that history was in front of you, but it was history with those piercingly blue eyes twinkling, that extraordinary smile, and the relishing of a quick, dry comment.”
I’ve heard it said that each time the people of Great Britain have sung “God Save the Queen,” it could be thought of as the people praying that God would keep their monarch under his care, protecting her and causing her to flourish. As we look back on Elizabeth’s 96 years of life and 70 years as Queen, we can see clearly how God answered those many prayers to save their queen. And now we pray for the repose her soul, that God’s light may perpetually shine on her, that her memory may be a blessing, and that those who mourn and are entering a great time of transition will be comforted and granted God’s peace.
Becky+
A Collect for Queen Elizabeth II from the Church of England
O God, the maker and redeemer of all mankind, grant us, with thy
servant Queen Elizabeth and all the faithful departed, the sure
benefits of thy Son’s saving passion and glorious resurrection; that in the
last day, when all things are gathered up in Christ, we may with them
enjoy the fullness of thy promises; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord,
who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one
God, world without end. Amen.