成人快手

Good morning.

The distinguished former Master of the Rolls Lord Denning called Magna Carta 鈥渢he greatest constitutional document of all time.鈥澛� It changed the constitutional landscape of England and its influence has been foundational in democracies around the world.聽

But it鈥檚 a curious document to read.聽 What are we to make today of the clauses about not taking hostages, not stealing someone else鈥檚 wood or maintaining your fishpond for the sake of your heirs?聽

What Magna Carta does is to cash out in its own context the values that both King and nobles had agreed were basic to communal life.聽 And those were values they had drawn from their Christian faith. When it decrees that weights and measures are to be common throughout the land, Magna Carta is drawing on Old Testament prophets like Amos, with his insistence on justice in markets.聽 When it insists that widows should keep their husband鈥檚 inheritance, it is drawing on Zechariah鈥檚 compassion for the marginalised in society.聽 And crucially, when it speaks extensively about pardoning offences and overcoming bitterness between old enemies, Magna Carta is embodying the deep vein of reconciliation exemplified and enabled by the death and resurrection of Christ.聽

God of all, your son Jesus Christ fed the hungry, released the oppressed and reconciled enemies to each other and to God. Help us to follow his example and obey his command to go and do likewise. Amen聽