The time, care and compassion you give, often quietly and unspoken, and without any expectation or recognition, make an extraordinary difference to the lives of others
Princess of Wales, letter to guests attending a Christmas carol service in Westminster Abbey, 5 December
Newsflash: Jesus died on a Roman cross. Hence, Saint Paul’s statement that God’s power is made perfect “in weakness”. So, for me, as for many in the church, Robinson’s “masculine” Christianity is pretty much the antithesis of everything Jesus stood for
Ravi Holy, priest and writer, The Guardian, 10 December
The whole point of coming to church is that you sit alongside people you may not like, who hold very different, even (to you) repulsive political views. If Tommy Robinson were to come to church, he would have to sit with people of different colours and languages, and immigrants
Giles Fraser, priest and writer, UnHerd, 9 December
The wheat and the chaff grow together. None of us are entirely good or entirely bad. But the love of God — and this is the gift of judgment — the love of God is so bright, the love of God burns so strong, that when judgment comes it is about the chaff in all of us that will burn away, and all that will be left of us is what is of the kingdom, what is of God what is of love
Sean Rowe, Presiding Bishop of the US Episcopal Church, sermon at Trinity, Wall Street, New York, 7 December
It’s a hard thing to admit, but I more or less hated my dad. I think, looking back, I realise fear and love can’t co-exist
Fiona Rugg, daughter of John Smyth, The Times, 6 December
Given that we owe Christianity for everything from spiritual solace and cultural glories to social progress — the abolition of slavery and the prohibition of child labour — we should not fear to teach its role in British life with confidence
Bijan Omrani, writer, The Daily Telegraph, 10 December
We invite readers’ contributions. Quotations have to be from the past few days (or quoted therein), and we need author, source, and date. Please send promptly to: quotes@churchtimes.co.uk
