The news this morning is full of the £1m bonus to be paid to the Chairman of RBS.  Indignation is everywhere – and I share some of it, tempered by the fact that I know little about pay scales, and have no clear alternative to “market forces” to offer.  Limited differentials (between the highest and lowest paid) seem attractive, and I think some firms like Traidcraft operate them by consent, but how that might apply in the wider economy is harder to explain.

Of course the debate is likely to be influenced by greed and jealousy.  For some (sinful) reason, we find it easier to compare ourselves with those better off, rather than with those who have less than us, or live in more difficult conditions.  Yet in the world, we are among the most privileged, best protected, most secure of all people.  Even life at British benefit levels is, for the world majority, a dream.

I suggest that we need to make the effort to come out of our isolation, and the self-pity which easily creeps into it.  (“Everyone else is getting . .”)  We belong to a family.  At the local level, we share with the congregations of the Parish.  But it is not only at the local level.  It is important that we share in the Diocesan family, and the struggles and triumphs it goes through.  And it is important that, for our own good as well as theirs, we share with the global Christian family.  It enriches us to know of their lives, faith, and endurance.  It saves us from isolation, greed, jealousy, self-pity, - not of course that we indulge them.  Well, not often.  Well . .

“Charity begins at home” ?  I suppose, as long as you stress begins.  God’s love (charity) applies here, but extends without boundaries.  I haven’t quite managed to get to that, yet.

Andrew Knight, Vicar St Paul's Sketty Swansea