A Sunday in London

This morning, I attended the Eucharist at St. Paul’s Cathedral, including a celebration of Mozart’s sacred music, receiving communion with more than 1,000 worshipers. Our sermon was on forgiveness and the story of the good Samaritan.

We prayed for the vitality of London. This city is now 15 million. However, it is laced with flowers, trees and gardens throughout, and organized with squares, parks and crooked lanes, all making it feel quite human.

Then on to the British museum, for an extraordinary exhibit of Italian Renissance drawings and one on the history of money.

All day, I kept remembering the words of poet John Keats:

“A thing of beauty is a joy for ever:
Its loveliness increases; it will never
Pass into nothingness; but still will keep
A bower quiet for us, and a sleep
Full of sweet dreams, and health, and quiet breathing.”