Thoughts for the Day

‘If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, “Servants are not greater than their master.” If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

I looked at England's Patron Saint, Saint George last year (Thoughts 2024). This year it has been transferred in our Lectionary because of occurring in Holy Week (social media announced the day had been abolished because of this!) so I thought we would look at him again. For a start he isn't just the patron saint of England. He also holds this position for Aragon, Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Germany, Greece, Moscow, Istanbul, Genoa and Venice (second to Saint Mark). It is believed that Saint George was born in Cappadocia in modern-day Turkey. His parents were Christians, and, after his father died, his mother took her son to live in the Middle East. George became a Roman soldier but protested against how badly Rome treated Christian people. Subsequently he was put in prison and tortured because of this, but refusing to change he was eventually executed. It is said that the Empress was so impressed by how George didn't give up his faith that she became a Christian too.

The flag of Saint George is a red cross on a white background, and was joined with the white saltire on a blue background for St Andrew in 1606 after the union with Scotland, and in 1801 the red saltire of Ireland to create the Union Jack. English soldiers also used to wear the cross of St George on their fronts and backs. Saint George came to be regarded as a special protector of the English from the 14th century onward.

We English may not be very good at remembering our patron saint, but many who receive these Thoughts across the world have countries, towns, churches, and schools, dedicated to saints, and will value them. I like to think that we can emulate their courage in standing up for the faith, rather than allowing it to be ignored, or trampled on by those who are not Christians!

* Collect for Saint George

God of hosts,
who so kindled the flame of love
in the heart of Your servant George
that he bore witness to the risen Lord
by his life and by his death:
give us the same faith and power of love
that we who rejoice in his triumphs
may come to share with him
the fullness of the resurrection;
through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord.
Amen.