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The TB News Daily Reflection
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Hello, I'm Brenda, vicar of St Francis Church in Teesside. Today is St George's Day, the patron saint of England and of Georgia
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Not much is known about St George. It is written that he was a soldier in the Roman army
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who became a Christian and was martyred in the year 303. Centuries later, after the Crusades, the people came home with many stories of the cult of George
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Some stories suggested he had been a great warrior and had even slain a dragon
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His fame grew and George replaced Edward the Confessor as England's patron saint
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In paintings, he is often seen wearing armour, battling bravely a great green monster
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carrying a white shield with a red cross But Christian armour is not for battling people but spiritual warfare battling the devil that great dragon and his minions through the power of prayer Christian armour has boots of
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peace, a breastplate of righteousness or right living, a belt of truth, a shield of faith
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a sword of the Holy Spirit and a helmet of our salvation
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Paul writes in 2 Timothy that we are to share in suffering
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like a good soldier of Christ Jesus, following Christ's example. Living Jesus' way means sometimes people will laugh at us
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or be angry at what we believe. But Christians celebrate St George's Day
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remembering his strength of faith, a soldier of Christ, and that can help us stay strong in ours. Amen
