Uplifting!

THEIR Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall culminated their official visit to Barbados with a service of worship, which was held at the Cathedral Church of Saint Michael and All Angels yesterday morning.

During the service, which was also attended by Governor General of Barbados Dame Sandra Mason, Diocesan Bishop, the Rt Rev’d Michael Maxwell described their visit as inspired and commissioned by God, as their Royal Highnesses make a number of stops across the Caribbean.

Bishop Maxwell said that their visit was also important as Barbados continues to face a period of difficulty.
“I believe He sent you to visit us like Moses to see firsthand the economic, social and moral issues that are currently affecting us here in the Caribbean and assist us in addressing them. To pledge your support, to dialogue with us and establish closer ties. To let us know genuine love and care for us and our desire to work with and lend a helping hand to us.”

“So I want to thank you. Thank you for responding to what I believe is God’s commission; for visiting us and offering us your love and support, your well-wishes and assistance; and I thank you as well because you certainly could have had some reservations in coming to us at a time such as this when our current affairs are not the very best. And our history of slavery to some extent still haunts us from time to time.

“But thanks be to God, you responded favourably and you came and you pledged your support to assist us where possible. And thanks be to God that most of us have learned to forgive the past and warmly welcome and accept your offer of support at this time.”

The Bishop told the congregation that the church has adopted seven themes which begin with the letter ‘C’ during the Lenten season. This week the focus will be on “commission”. He said that this does not extend solely to the Prince and the Duchess, but to all Christians to be able to hear the cries of each other and respond.

“Even now, God hears the cries of our Barbadian people. How many more? How many more violent deaths? How many more will turn to drugs, how many more will be laid off? How many more school drop outs? How many more will turn to a life of crime and gun violence? How many more will become indifferent to God and the sanctity of human life? How many more?

“We have not done well in the past to curb the past of the social, moral and economic ills. And so God now calls us, God now commissions us as Christians to rise up and to respond, respond immediately, intentionally and aptly.

“This is our commission my friends and day by day, wherever we are, and wherever we go, God calls on us to make a difference in the lives of others, to establish His Kingdom in their lives. The poor, the elderly, the at-risk youth, the physically challenged, the homeless, the vagrants, the single-parents, the sick and the terminally ill.
“It only takes a spark to get a fire going. Let us then light that spark. And diligently respond as God calls and commissions us to continue the work initiated by his son Jesus Christ.”

During their packed tour, Their Highness will visit Cuba, and will become the first British royals to make an official visit to that country. (JH)