The Princess

 

Audio recording here. 

Good morning and welcome to Thought for the Day.

It was a big shock to learn on Friday evening that Kate, the Princess of Wales has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. And this only a few weeks after King Charles was having cancer treatment.

It’s deeply upsetting. I guess there’s a part of us that looks at the royals and thinks that they live in a kind of fairytale story where life is always good and always has a happy ending. But it’s not. We’ve seen from the loss of the Queen and Prince Philip, difficulties between Harry and his family, and of course the tragic death of the former Princess of Wales, Diana, that no family is immune from suffering.

The good news is that it seems her surgery was successful and the treatment is preventative, which sounds like there is every hope that she will make a full recovery. But Kate’s openness and honesty will have done a great deal to help others who are facing similar things.

And perhaps there’s someone listening in today who is facing cancer. Sadly, it’s incredibly common, even in those who are young. A woman in our church who experienced cancer treatment in her 40s a few years ago said as she reflected on Kate’s video statement that the hardest part was telling the children.

Well my aim is not to depress you this morning, but instead to share with you some good news of a God who loves you and cares for you whatever you are going through.

First, the Bible describes a God who himself suffers. When Jesus Christ died on the cross on Good Friday, he came to suffer with us. He cried out on the cross, “my God my God why have you forsaken me?” For anyone who cries out "why?" God understands. Jesus has been there.

But secondly, Jesus didn’t just come and suffer with us, he came to suffer for us. He took on his back the punishment that we deserve in our place. In his love he took the sins of the world on his own back, and dealt with all the brokenness and sin of the world. But three days later he rose to new life. A new dawn has risen over our planet, because Jesus Christ has come to give us hope beyond the grave.

That won’t suddenly make everything OK, but it does give perspective even on cancer. No suffering is forever. If we put our hand into the hand of the Good Shepherd, he will lead us through the dark valley and out to the eternal banquet. This is what makes Easter such very good news. Come and join a local church on Good Friday or Easter Sunday to find out more.

Thanks for listening. Have a great day.