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Good morning

I’m a member of the House of Lords and one of the loveliest things I do is welcome people in and show them round the magnificent premises of our national parliament. In recent months, I’ve taken the members of our church’s Sisterhood – all ladies of an uncertain age, many of whom have survived the Second World War. They made their way with zimmer frames and cockney banter, enchanting officials and members alike. The tea they ate was mountainous; sandwiches, cakes, scones with lashings of cream, - all disappeared with great rapidity. They walked around the hallowed corridors as if they owned the place – which, of course, they did.

Most recently, I entertained four Year 11 pupils from a Boys’ School where I have some responsibility. Two of them were Moslems. It was Ramadan but they insisted that the rest of us should have lunch; they played a full part in our conversation even though their stomachs must have been aching for food. The family of one of these boys hailed from Kashmir, disputed territory between India and Pakistan. Another was from Algeria and spoke fluent French and Arabic as well as English. A third was Jewish and spoke of his family’s origins in Lebanon, the Gambia, Tsarist Russia and California. The fourth, a Chinese boy, is a brilliant pianist who wants to be a philosopher. How can anybody better that? I felt that my Christian faith was enriched by their company. And that my country was blessed by their citizenship within it.

Dear Lord, show us how to build a nation where we live with each other, learn from each other and laugh with each other. And then give us the wit and courage to work to build it. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.