The Feast of St George | Monday 24 April 2023

Today is Monday the 24th of April, the feast of St George, in the third week of Easter.

The Community of Taizé sing Christe Lux Mundi: ‘O Christ, light of the world, whoever follows you will have the light of life.’

Christe, lux mundi,
qui sequitur te,
habebit lumen vitae,
lumen vitae

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 9:23-26

Then he said to them all, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it. What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words, of them the Son of Man will be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

We are now well into the Easter season, and today in England, the Church remembers St George, our patron saint. This is why we hear the reading referring to “taking up the cross daily.” How do these words land with you as you hear them today?


What does “following” Jesus involve for you?

What might it look like to “gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit [yourself]”?

Jesus warns us not to be “ashamed of me and my words”. Are there any ways in which you might be “ashamed” of Jesus? Gently sit with anything that comes up with the Lord.


Now listen once more to the reading, and ask yourself what Jesus means when he speaks of the Son of Man coming “in his glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels”.


Finally, see if you can bring together all the thoughts that have been rising up in you during this time of reflection, and turn them into a prayer to God, who is very close to you.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.