There are a lot of people to thank. Reportedly. Boris Johnson was partly in the hands of a Baptist consultant who worships at Spurgeon's Tabernacle in London and an Italian respiratory consultant, working for the NHS. He is Luigi Camporata from Reggio Calabria who gained a doctorate from Southampton University and is regarded as an expert in the field of respiratory illness. Overarching that specialism at St Thomas's Hospital is Mr Richard Leach. There could be an advantage in having a leader who has battled this illness. I noticed that the first thoughts of the Prime Minister were for those with and the families of those suffering from "this terrible illness".
The Queen can look her people in the face too, because her own life has changed, possibly indefinitely. We too are all just grasping this, particularly those in older age brackets, or with underlying health conditions who are more at risk.
Surrounded by a few people who devote their lives to her, such as her butler Paul. and her dresser, she and Prince Philip cannot see their own family. The Queen's primary role is being seen in public and meeting the public and diplomats, attending church and social functions. It is difficult how that can continue in the age of COVID-19 when the Monarch is the the highest risk bracket. Having said that, my own father, aged 91, appears to have overcome the illness and even for those over 80, the death rate is quoted to be 15%. Nevertheless, things have changed.for The Queen, possibly permanently.
These personal issues give a new dimension to her audio Easter Message, which is certainly directed at Christians unable to gather in church. Nor can she worship, even as Supreme Governor of the Church of England unless she has a chaplain who has been self-isolating for three weeks; like us she will be unable receive Easter Communion.
Her Easter Message describes the Resurrection on the first Easter Day, as 'light'. It lit a flame of hope overcoming darkness that has travelled down to us, over two thousand years - and that Light can guide us, through, back to normality, through the hope it brings. She says:
"Many religions have festivals which celebrate light overcomg darkness. Such occasions are often accompanied by the lighting of candles. They seem to speak to every culture and appeal to people of all faiths and to those with none. They are lit on cakes and to mark anniversaries, when we gather happily around a source of light. It unite us.
Surrounded by a few people who devote their lives to her, such as her butler Paul. and her dresser, she and Prince Philip cannot see their own family. The Queen's primary role is being seen in public and meeting the public and diplomats, attending church and social functions. It is difficult how that can continue in the age of COVID-19 when the Monarch is the the highest risk bracket. Having said that, my own father, aged 91, appears to have overcome the illness and even for those over 80, the death rate is quoted to be 15%. Nevertheless, things have changed.for The Queen, possibly permanently.
These personal issues give a new dimension to her audio Easter Message, which is certainly directed at Christians unable to gather in church. Nor can she worship, even as Supreme Governor of the Church of England unless she has a chaplain who has been self-isolating for three weeks; like us she will be unable receive Easter Communion.
Her Easter Message describes the Resurrection on the first Easter Day, as 'light'. It lit a flame of hope overcoming darkness that has travelled down to us, over two thousand years - and that Light can guide us, through, back to normality, through the hope it brings. She says:
"Many religions have festivals which celebrate light overcomg darkness. Such occasions are often accompanied by the lighting of candles. They seem to speak to every culture and appeal to people of all faiths and to those with none. They are lit on cakes and to mark anniversaries, when we gather happily around a source of light. It unite us.
As darkness falls on the Saturday before Easter Day, many Christians would normally light candles together. In Church, one light would pass to another, spreading slowly and then more rapidly as more candles are lit. It is a way of showing how the Good News of Christ's Resurrection has been passed on from the First Easter, by every generation until now.
This year Easter will be different for many of us. But by keeping apart, we keep others safe.
But Easter is not cancelled: we need Easter as much as ever. The discovery of the Risen Christ on the first Easter Day gave gave His followers, new hope and fresh purpose. and we can all take heart from this.
We know that coronavirus will not overcome us. As dark as death can be, particularly for those suffering from grief, Light and Life are greater.
May the living flame of the Easter hope be a steady guide as we face the future. I wish everyone of all faiths and denominations a blessed Easter".
This is a Catch-22 situation familiar to me, through years of having an incurable, crippling chronic illness. The human mind can see no way through, There is no apparent solution to the trade-off between health and wealth - the pressing need to recover and rest, while earning a living. This is the same for a country: it needs to protect people while making to the economy function sufficiently for people to put food on the table. How can it be achieved?
Yet, in this new landscape that lacks familiar signposts, or clear solutions, trusting in Jesus Christ is the way through, step by step, leaning entirely on Him. That way is often slower than one might hope, but it is sure. After all, Someone who overcame Death and this Evil World on Easter Day, is Someone to trust and follow.
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