Remembering the Queen

The widespread respect, admiration, and acknowledgement of the late queen has been remarkable. Republicans and royalists, old and young, left and right – almost everyone finds themselves somehow moved to awe at the passing of a great one.

That people from across divides speak as one is refreshing. We live in divisive times. The passing of Scott Morrison as prime minister has been both celebrated and mourned. People love or loathe Donald Trump. The Swedish have just voted out a left-wing coalition and replaced it with a right-wing one. But the queen has managed to rise above such divides.

The contrast between her long stable reign, and the blustery impulsive Boris is also stark. And I think this is part of why people admire her. She was a constant in a world of change, understated in a world of extremes, and committed to serve in a world where people are committed to self.

She embodied much of what was good about Christendom. Her views were informed by her faith, not just the latest opinion polls. She had a strong sense of values and duty. She believed she had a role to play, and one day would be called to account.

Like all of us, she had her faults, but many of them were not just her faults, but rather the faults of her time and world. One suspects she was not always the emotionally present mother her children needed. Nor the voice against injustice she might have been given she was head of an empire.

Our widespread sense of loss and shared grief also says something about us. We take comfort when a worthy sovereign sits on the throne – when we have stable leadership over the long haul, despite the squalls and storms that come and go. The queen may have passed, and Charles may not prove her equal, but Jesus is still the King of Kings.    

Rev David Rietveld
Senior Minister