Assize Service for C.S.Barr-Kumarakulasinghe (Commissioner of Assizes) - 8 Feb 1954

A divine service at the beginning of a Supreme Court sessions serves a twofold purpose:

1. It reminds us all of the teaching of the Scripture that the Civil Government is a divine institution. In this Epistle to the Romans, St. Paul tells us: ‘Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God; the powers that be are ordained of God.’ Human law and order is the earthly representative and the expression, however imperfect, of the eternal justice. If the Civil Government has divine authority, then it follows that our obedience to it should be a matter of conscience, and not simply of fear. We have to give our obedience to the laws of the State not out of fear of punishment, but as a duty we owe to God, from whom alone the State derives its authority to govern us. That is the truth which is brought home to us on an occasion like this.

2. This is an occasion to remind the Judge that in his responsible and elevated position he is not only the servant of the State, but also the servant of God. So he comes to God and bows down before Him fully conscious of the inadequacy of his resources, and his need for God’s grace for the most strenuous and arduous task that has been entrusted to him. This act of worship he offers in the company of his fellow members of the household of God. There is an added importance and significance to this occasion today because the Judge has sought the fellowship of the members of his old school, for this act of worship. It is therefore incumbent on us to pray to God most earnestly on his behalf that God may grant him guidance and illumination during the days ahead of him.

As our Lesson for today we had the story of King Solomon, a great king of ancient days. God said to him: “Ask what I shall give thee.” Solomon’s prayer was “Give thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and evil; for who is able to judge this thy great people.” This request pleased God because Solomon chose wisdom above all else as the one thing he needed to discharge his duties as king. God gave him not only what he asked, but even what he did not ask for - riches and honour and long life. Solomon realised that with all the powers he commanded his resources were not adequate to carry out his duties. He could not rely on his own strength to judge the people. It is in that spirit of humility, that you my brother, will approach the throne of Grace, and God will grant you guidance and illumination day to day. I would also ask you to take with you a short and beautiful prayer which you will do well to keep in mind always. It is the prayer of a devout fisherman who uttered that prayer every time he launched forth into the deep. ‘Blessed Lord, have mercy on me. The sea is so great and my boat is so small’. The fisherman constructs his boat with the utmost care. He chooses the best timber and sees to its that nothing but the best work is put into the building of the boat. When

the boat is declared to be seaworthy, he is ready to go on his expeditions. Before he launches forth into the deep, he realises that in spite of all the care he has taken to see to his safety, while he is on the sea, his expedition is full of dangers. His boat will not be able to withstand every kind of weather. He is certain that for his safety he has to depend on God. By your high intellectual attainment and legal acumen you have made yourself worthy of this exalted position to which God has called you. We are confident that you are well-equipped for the tasks ahead of you. But as the servant of God called upon to administer justice according to His will you do need wisdom from on high. It is our prayer that you should bow down before God in all true humility, fully realising the inadequacy of your resources and God’s all sufficiency. As you begin your work may this prayer of the fisherman be on your lips: ‘Blessed Lord, Have mercy on me. The sea is so great and my boat is so small.’