Eph 6:18-20 KJV
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and
watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (19) And for me, that utterance may be given
unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the
gospel, (20) For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that
therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Queen prays for Pope
John 15:12 ...
love one another ...
Two very prominent professors of the faith once
delivered to the saints (Jude 1.3) appear to be following the Savior's
instruction to His disciples.
After a long and continuing separation of the denominations
they represent.
The great web logger, ++Cranmer, explains the
significance of their meeting in the links and text below.
Perhaps we should all begin to pray more
regularly for Francis.
He has followed the apostolic example in asking
for prayer.
And a royal example in response invites imitation.
Cranmer: Pope Francis asks the
Queen to pray for him http://bit.ly/1qdz3oE
See also: Cranmer: Queen meets Pope Francis,
with another outward innovation http://bit.ly/1ep9sCb
Pope Francis asks the Queen to pray for him
These are not joke captions, but real excerpts
from the conversation this week between the Supreme Governor of the Church of
England and the Bishop of Rome.
It is good when Christians pray for one
another, and especially humbling when that request is made specifically and
personally rather than vaguely and generally. Roman Catholics appear to be
divided as to whether Pope Francis is most humble and a great reformer, or
encouraging "moral laxity and doctrinal indifference" and "the
most subversive Pope in history".
The Queen, however, seems to enjoy universal
praise and acclamation for her resolute Christian faith - and it comes from
Christians of all denominations and from people of all faiths and none.
By asking the Supreme Governor of the Church of
England to pray for him, Pope Francis is acknowledging their mutual solidarity
with God, and affirming that the Queen is trying to live out her life
faithfully. In New Testament terms, the intercessor lives in solidarity with
Jesus: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom for all" (1Tim 2:5f). Through
belief, baptism and living a life of faith, the believer is reconciled to God,
and intercession on behalf of others is intrinsic to the lived faith.
But in this modern era, we associate requests
for prayer with some human need or inadequacy - sickness, suffering, trouble,
lack of faith, etc. Or with a wider objective - peace, justice, reconciliation,
etc. By granting Pope Francis's prayer request, and assuring him that she will
not forget, the Queen has consented to work for him with God - effectively, to
care about his person and ministry. We intercede for others because of what we
believe about God as loving Father, who works directly, but also through men
and women, using their cooperation.
The Queen's intercessions for the Bishop of
Rome depend on her life of faith, not of words. For possibly the first time
since the Reformation, England's monarch has agreed to be a channel for
bringing Rome's pope closer to God; to become more sensitive to his needs,
desires and struggles. Of course, neither the Queen nor the Pope may see or
know the results in this life, for doubtless Her Majesty prays "Not my
will, but thine, be done" (Lk 22:42).
And the Pope will be mindful that Her Majesty
is a faithful Protestant, who prays to none other than God or Christ. Her
prayer is communion directly with God, as her own heart inclines toward mercy,
love and generosity. And Jesus promised that God would do all that we ask in
Christ's name, but this means more than appending "through Jesus
Christ" to the end of every prayer: it means praying as Christ himself
would pray.
The Bishop of Rome trusts the Supreme Governor
of the Church of England to do that: that she will abide in Christ as He does
in her; that she may ask what she wills and it shall be given.
His Grace just can't help wondering what that
might be.
posted byArchbishop Cranmer at 8:45 am
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I2C 140408a aa Eph 6v18to20 Queen prays for
Pope / I2C / 140408 1720 / Eph 6:18-20 Queen prays for Pope / John 15:12 ...
love one another ...
