The message of love and hope is for all men and women

Henry Bolton (still, I think, leader of UKIP, at least in his own eyes) is in deep trouble because of the widespread outrage which has been expressed in response to the claim of his (now former) girlfriend, Jo Marney, that, because of her black ancestry, Meghan Markle’s marriage to Prince Harry will “taint” the Royal Family.

The idea that people should be judged solely on the basis of the race into which they are born is not only offensive, but also ludicrous.

Christians believe that we are all made in God’s image.

It is, sadly, a marred image, but it is spoiled by our actions, rather than by the colour of our skin.

Yes, Christians believe that God chose the Jews for a special role in his plans for the world, but this was not because he wanted them to think themselves better than everyone else, but so that they might become a blessing to all the peoples of the earth.

And, we believe, that blessing came in Jesus, the Son of a Jewish Mother, Mary.

Jesus reached out in love and compassion to people of other races, and, very quickly, the Church came to realise that his message of love and hope was not just for the Jews, but for all men and women.

The Christian mission is a universal mission.

And so tomorrow the Church observes a Day of Prayer for Racial Justice, when we ask for an end to all racial discrimination, for we are all God’s children, and he loves us all.