13th June. 2020. Daily Devotion.

Sometimes Christian witness involves great physical and mental cost as Jesus’ crucifixion attests. Not everyone is called to that level of witness. I have excerpted from Peter Millar’s weekly letter this article about the Archbishop of York who faced suffering in his own country and whose testimony in this country is telling at this time of Black Lives Matter. Read first St Paul’s account of his sufferings from 2 Corinthians 11:21-30

Whatever anyone else dares to boast about – I am speaking as a fool – I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So, am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have laboured and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.

Beaten in Uganda, abused in the UK: The Archbishop of York’s long fight against injustice: Parts of a longer article in The Observer UK on 7th June 2020 by Arun Arora the Church of England’s former head of communications.

(John Sentamu who has been Archbishop of York for the last 15 years is retiring. Born in 1949 near Kampala in Uganda he and his wife Margaret have a daughter and son. He was a lawyer and judge in Uganda and suffered under Idi Amin. He fled to the UK in 1974. He became Archbishop of York, the second senior position in the Church of England in 2005.)

*** This week, the Church of England loses one of its most powerful, prophetic, and joyous voices as John Sentamu, the 97th Archbishop of York retires. The journey from Uganda to York, via Cambridge, London, and Birmingham, has been marked by an extraordinary contribution to the life and faith of both church and nation. In the midst of national debates on racism, inequality and brutality, few in public life can claim to have the experience of standing up to injustice and paying the price in the way he has done.

As a high court judge in Uganda and opponent of the horrific regime of Idi Amin, Sentamu refused to overlook the crimes of one of Amin’s family. Defying an order to deliver a not guilty verdict he was arrested and badly beaten in prison, subsequently describing the experiences as “being kicked around like a human football”. He suffered severe internal injuries and received the last rites from Keith Sutton, a British priest and later bishop of Lichfield who arranged to smuggle Sentamu and his wife Margaret out of Uganda on his release from prison in 1973.

His appointment to York – described by one broadsheet at the time as “political correctness gone gloriously sane” – gave a neat nod to the fact that, for the first time in history, the church would have a black archbishop. Sentamu played down the race element, responding to one journalist that, “first I am a Christian, second I am a man, third I am black”. It is also true that while living in London, he was stopped and searched by the police eight times.

There were other incidents too: “There was a lady who didn’t want me to take her husband’s funeral because I was black. I took one funeral and at the end a man said to me, ‘Why did my father deserve to be buried by a black monkey?’ We also received letters with excrement in them.” But it is Sentamu’s strength as an evangelist and his ability to connect with people far beyond the church that have been markers of his ministry, There is little doubt that even in his retirement, Sentamu will continue to advocate for the voiceless, to speak out strongly and clearly against injustice, and tell of the glories of the Lord. ***

The Gospel brings forgiveness for the past, new life for the present and hope for the future. John Sentamu, Archbishop of York.

Continue to pray in the Coronavirus crisis, but also for people who are persecuted or abused because of their colour, ethnicity, their minority status, or their faith. Adapt this prayer accordingly:

For those suffering because of their Christian faith, that the Holy Spirit may fortify them with the courage to remain strong in faith, as well as with the charity to forgive their persecutors, we pray to the Lord. For your faithful who suffer for your name’s sake, that you would grant them a spirit of patience and charity, that they may be found true and faithful witnesses to the promises you have made, we pray to the Lord. For those who suffer persecution for their faithful service to you, that they may rejoice to be united to the sacrifice of Christ your Son and may know that their names are written in heaven among the company of the elect, we pray to the Lord. For those who follow your Son in bearing their cross, that they may, in every trial, glory in the name of Christian, we pray to the Lord. For Christians in every land, that they may be granted courage, hope, and perseverance as they bear heroic witness to their faith in this time of persecution, we pray to the Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, Majestic King, Creator, Ruler of the land and everything that dwells within it. We praise Your holy name, for there is none like You in all the earth. You created us each uniquely in Your image and likeness, in all shapes and sizes and complexions. We pray with faith and belief, that You will heal the land of the infectious disease of racism that targets many even today.

John 13:34 – A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. Remove all separations of skin colour in our land. Help us all to live in peace and harmony with one another.

Remind us that we are all created equally, and we are all children of Your mighty kingdom. Help us to be meek and humble, for those are the ones who will inherit Your earth through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A (belated) blessing for Trinity Sunday

May the eyes of the seeing Father watch over us and keep us in his gaze…… May the arms of the loving Saviour hold us close and surround each moment of our lives with his care…… May the wings of the living Spirit shelter each of us and enfold all our days and nights with God’s peace. Amen. Simon Taylor