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Morning Meditation
October 6, 2025
William Tyndale and Miles Coverdale
Reading: James 1:19-27
You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like. But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act—they will be blessed in their doing.
If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Meditation by Jeremy O’Neill
This past Friday, The Right Rev. Sarah Mullally was named 106th Archbishop of Canterbury. She currently serves as Bishop of London, and will be the first woman to serve as the leader of the global Anglican Communion. She will begin her ministry during a difficult time for the Church of England, as the previous Archbishop of Canterbury resigned over his mishandling of sexual abuse in the Church. Archbishop Sarah is also set to lead a communion of Anglicans who have yet to reach agreement on the full inclusion of LGBTQ+ people, coupled with a smaller group within the communion who have yet to accept the ordination of women to the Priesthood.
In her first interview upon being named Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop Sarah mentioned her previous career as a nurse as a holy vocation. The words from James appointed for today are particularly helpful to all of us as we consider how our lives might better reflect our faith and how we might find our calling in everyday life. I am particularly inspired by the words of our baptismal covenant, wherein we proclaim that with God’s help we will “strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.” It is my prayer that all worldwide Anglicans may consider this to be a part of our calling as Christians. The world needs this witness more than ever, and I pray that our faith and the grace of our creator will sustain us in doing this difficult work.
In a monumental week for the Anglican Communion, the Episcopal Church remembers two other pioneers in the Church of England today. William Tyndale and Miles Coverdale worked on some of the first widely used English translations of the Bible, and their work would heavily influence the still popular King James Version. The “Coverdale Psalter” in particular is still revered for the beauty of its translations.
Tyndale and Coverdale’s translations helped more people read and consider scriptures, and meant that one could approach the sacred texts in the vernacular rather than having to learn Latin. Similarly, Archbishop Mullally has frequently mentioned fighting misogyny as a key part of her calling to the Church. Both of these actions result in the democratization of the church, taking the power of interpretation out of the hands of the few and into the hands of the many. May we all take up this duty to make the church a place accessible to all, and may we use the gift of interpretation and discernment to put our faith into action.
Prayer
Reveal to us your saving word, O God, that like your servant William Tyndale we might hear its call to repentance and new life. Plant in our hearts that same consuming passion to bring the scriptures to all people in their native tongue, and the strength to endure amidst all obstacles; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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