St George a reflection by Gary Jenkins
St George’s Day Service: Revelation 12.7-12; John 15.18-21
St. George was not born in England but came from what today we now call Turkey, he was a Christian, a Roman soldier and a martyr for his Faith. He was born sometime between the year 275 and 285.
In the year 303 life became very difficult for Christians in the Roman Army. The Emperor issued an edict that all soldiers must worship the Roman gods.
George refused. In front of his fellow soldiers George declared that he was a Christian and worshipped Jesus Christ and him alone. The Emperor who appreciated George’s military prowess attempted to persuade George to relent and even offered him gifts of land and slaves if he would but worship the gods of the Romans.
But George stood steadfast and, after horrible torture, he was beheaded by the Romans on April 23rd 303. Before his execution George gave all his wealth to the poor. Afterwards a pagan priest and the Empress Alexandra herself, who had witnessed George’s sufferings for his faith, became Christians themselves.
Since year 303 George has been honored as a martyr, a brave soldier and servant of Jesus Christ. The Church remembers him on the day he died, 23rd April, St George’s Day, the day we remember him in England as the Patron Saint of our nation.
But what about the dragon? That bit seems to be a myth, a legend, but….. in the book of Revelation, our first reading, the Devil is portrayed as a Dragon. There he is triumphantly defeated.
Like his master, Jesus Christ, George, battled with temptations thrown at him by the Devil. Like his master, the Lord Jesus, he didn’t give in to them, and in his martyr’s death, George really did defeat the dragon that wanted him to deny his Lord.
George in his own life learnt the truth of our second reading where Jesus says to hs disciples:
18 “If the world hates you, just remember that it has hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, then the world would love you as its own. But I chose you from this world, and you do not belong to it; that is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘Slaves are not greater than their master.’ If people persecuted me, they will persecute you too;
Christians, say Jesus, belong to him, not to the world. They have signed up to a different kingdom, God’s kingdom. They are soldiers and servants of Christ before they are anything else. That doesn’t mean they don’t get involved in the affairs of the world. Quite the opposite: they get stuck in, as St George did – for the many years he served in the Army.
But when push comes to shove, when the world calls one way, and the Lord Jesus calls the other, they know the way they should go. Because they belong to another kingdom and the follow another king
Of course, here living in England, we have a privilege that St George could only dream of. We get to choose the government.
As we come soon to the Local Elections, let us first make sure we use our vote, and when we come to the voting booth and we mark our cross, let us vote as Christian people, seeking to choose what we believe to be the best for our community and best for our United Kingdom.
And as we think of our nation, and the brave example of St George, let us pray that prayer that Jesus taught us, that prayer that prays for the coming of God’s kingdom, so that his will may be done on earth, in England, as it is in heaven:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done in earth,
As it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, For ever and ever.
Amen
For St Georges Day video and resources to help you learn more and celebrate St Georges day go to: Celebrating St George’s Day – The Diocese of Southwark.
