14/11/2009

Today, in the City of London, the 2009 Lord Mayor’s show takes place. This ancient pageant conveys the newly elected Lord Mayor of London from his house opposite the Bank of England to the Royal Courts of Justice, just outside the old City gates. There he will swear allegiance to the Crown, just as his predecessors have since King John granted the City a Royal Charter in 1215 .

On the way, the Lord Mayor will stop at St Paul’s Cathedral to receive a blessing from the Dean.

Wren’s great church, standing in the heart of London’s global financial district, has just held a series of open debates about Money, Integrity and Wellbeing . A fitting set of issues for global financiers and everyone else to debate at any time, but especially now as we ponder how to repair the world’s finances after the global financial crisis.

Jesus himself was clear about the importance of giving money its proper place in life. He said “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…. but lay up … treasures in Heaven ” and even more clearly:“You cannot serve God and money ”.

Today’s blessing at St Paul’s, and the recent debates held there, remind us that faith in God has an important part to play giving money its proper place in both our life and Society. When the Lord Mayor leaves St Paul’s to go on to make his promise to serve the Queen faithfully in the coming year he will have been encouraged to do so with the help of God. We too, especially those in the financial sector - will need God’s help to bring balance back in to our use of money.