Archbishop of Canterbury  Today, on the feast of our patron Saint George, may the Holy Spirit strengthen our hearts to receive courage to walk in faith and trust in the loving kindness of God in everything we face.

What are mortals, that you should be mindful of them; mere human beings, that you should seek them out? You have made them little lower than the angels and crown them with glory and honour. Psalm 8.5,6 For over a thousand years our kings and queens have been invested with ring, sceptre, rod, orb and crown. These golden objects are adorned with…

Anointed with oil The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. Isaiah 61.1-2 At the heart of the coronation is…

  You’ve never failed Reading Matthew 28.1-1After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing…

The longest Saturday Reading John 16.16-17 Jesus said to his disciples, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.’ Then some of his disciples said to one another, ‘What does he mean by saying to us, “A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while,…

  The Failure of the Cross Reading Matthew 27.38-46 Then two bandits were crucified with Jesus, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.’…

Preparing to fail? Reading Matthew 26.20-25 When it was evening, Jesus took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.’ And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, ‘Surely not I, Lord?’ He answered, ‘The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl…

Jesus has time for “failures” Reading Matthew 21.28-32 Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people, ‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said…

Setting us up to fail Reading Mark 13.9-13 Jesus said to his disciples, ‘As for yourselves, beware; for they will hand you over to councils; and you will be beaten in synagogues; and you will stand before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them. And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. When they bring you to…