In honour of the patron Saint of England, here’s some reflections on the life of the actual St George.
People who have days named for them have to be remarkable. Their lives have to be significant – to point to something or someone bigger than them. St George was no exception.
He lived about 1700 years ago and for most of his life was pretty successful. He had money and property. He was a brilliant soldier and was loved by Caesar, the Emperor and leader of most of the world.
Then he seemed to throw it all away. And yet in the process achieved greatness.
The Emperor started to attack and punish Christians. When he heard about this George publicly revealed that he followed Jesus and started to tell people about how Jesus had come back from the dead and could give those who trusted him new life.
George sold all that he had and gave all his money to help the poor.
This was not a good career move, to say the least. If you’ll pardon the expression, all hell broke loose. Here was one of the top soldiers in the Roman army publicly defying the emperor and the law.
The Emperor was not having any of this so he tried to get him to say he didn’t believe in Jesus. First he offered him good things like a better job and money if he would deny Jesus. Then, when that didn’t work he hurt him very badly and did all kinds of horrible things. George kept on saying no – he believed Jesus had come back from the dead & had given him a new life.
So they went on torturing George and still he wouldn’t do what they wanted.
Things were getting pretty embarrassing for the Emperor. Worse still, when others saw George’s his example – how he loved others and gave his money to help them, how he loved Jesus and wouldn’t deny him – they became Christians too. Eventually even the Emperor’s own wife became a Christian. Eventually it all got too much and they killed George.
But not before his life had become so important that the church started to celebrate a day in his memory which we still celebrate today – the day he died.
So why celebrate?
George’s life is important for what it points to.
Greatness is found not in the path of Caesar but after the example of George. It consists not on obtaining what we can for ourselves, but in giving ourselves for others; not in living for this life but for eternity; not in following the path of popularity and temporary power but of the crucified Christ.
George found greatness, and changed the world around him, by serving God and pointing people to Jesus. He appeared to fail yet 1700 years after his death the Emperor who had him killed is largely forgotten George is remembered around the world.
The way of St George is not one of slaying dragons but of giving ourselves for others and for God.
This is a path all of us can choose. We can choose what we do with our lives, choose the men and women we want to be. We can choose greatness
Choose to love God and love others – that is the path to a truly great life.
Deep Church 