The Royal Wedding

I was totally captivated by the royal wedding.  It was hard to not be captivated by the seemingly constant coverage of the engagement, preparation, and orchestration of the wedding.  My husband was unwillingly captivated, while I was ever so willingly swept away by the royal matrimony.    Maybe it was because of my British father who loved the monarchy.  Or perhaps it was my 7 years spent living in England frequently passing Buckingham Palace.  Or perhaps it was simply the fairytale story of a beautiful "commoner" meeting her prince charming and transforming into a royal princess.  Whatever the reason, I didn't think twice about waking up at 4 am to catch every minute of coverage.  What guests came to witness the wedding?  How many thousands of people would wait on the streets to catch a glimpse of the royal family and particularly the bride?  What would the royal family be wearing?  And perhaps most anticipated, what would Kate's dress look like?

The Royals had the schedule down to the minute.  With each new arrival, Westminster Abbey increasingly filled.  The closer to the wedding hour, the more prestigious the guests.  From celebrities to dignitaries to friends to family to all the monarchs and finally Kate and her proud father.  As the anticipation was realized, the world looked on at Catherine.

She was stunning!  She looked like a princess.  And in a matter of an hour she would go from Kate Middleton to Princess Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.  Not before a hugely significant ceremony.

With all the pomp and circumstance of the royal family, it's easy to forget that the queen holds the title of "Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England."  In theory, it is the monarchy that upholds the Church.  It's easy to question to legitimacy of the monarchy's role in the church.  It's easy to imagine them setting aside the pillars of a Christian marriage ceremony for sake of being politically correct and not offending their religiously diverse guests.  But as I watched the service, I was surprised by the stated picture of marriage being an image of Christ and His Church.  I was thrilled for how many times the name of Jesus was lifted up.  Of the billions of viewers, they heard the name of Christ and they heard from God's word.

Several notable parts of the service that are worth reading:   
 

THE HYMN  

Love divine, all loves excelling,

joy of heaven, to earth come down,

fix in us thy humble dwelling,

all thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesu, thou art all compassion,

pure unbounded love thou art;

visit us with thy salvation,

enter every trembling heart.

Come, almighty to deliver,

let us all thy life receive;

suddenly return, and never,

never more thy temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing,

serve thee as thy hosts above,

pray, and praise thee, without ceasing,

glory in thy perfect love.

Finish then thy new creation,

pure and spotless let us be;

let us see thy great salvation,

perfectly restored in thee,

changed from glory into glory,

till in heaven we take our place,

till we cast our crowns before thee,

lost in wonder, love, and praise!

The reading from a significant portion of Romans 12.

The congregational prayer:
Lord, have mercy upon us.

Lord, have mercy upon us.

Our Father, which art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name;

thy kingdom come;

thy will be done,

in earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive them that trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation;

but deliver us from evil. Amen.

O Lord, save thy servant, and thy handmaid;

who put their trust in thee.

O Lord, send them help from thy holy place;

and evermore defend them.

Be unto them a tower of strength;

from the face of their enemy.

O Lord, hear our prayer;
and let our cry come unto thee.

Amen.Amen.Amen.Amen.

O God of our fathers, bless these thy servants, and sow the seed of eternal life in their hearts; that

whatsoever in thy holy Word they shall profitably learn, they may in deed fulfil the same; that

so, obeying thy will, and alway being in safety under thy protection, they may abide in thy love

unto their lives’ end; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

O merciful Lord and heavenly Father, by whose gracious gift mankind is increased; bestow, we

beseech thee, upon these two persons the heritage and gift of children; and grant that they may

see their children christianly and virtuously brought up to thy praise and honour, through Jesus

Christ our Lord.

O God, who hast taught us that it should never be lawful to put asunder those whom thou by

Matrimony hadst made one, and hast consecrated the state of Matrimony to such an excellent

mystery, that in it is signified and represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ

and his Church: look mercifully upon these thy servants, that both this man may love his wife,

according to thy Word, (as Christ did love his spouse the Church, who gave himself for it, loving

and cherishing it even as his own flesh), and also that this woman may be loving and amiable,

and faithful to her husband, and in all quietness, sobriety, and peace, be a follower of holy and

godly matrons. O Lord, bless them both, and grant them to inherit thy everlasting kingdom;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, pour upon you the riches of his grace,

sanctify and bless you, that ye may please him both in body and soul, and live together in holy

love unto your lives’ end.

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation,

to join together this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate,

instituted of God himself, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his

Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle

that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee, and is commended in Holy Writ to be honourable among

all men; and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or

wantonly; but reverently, discreetly, soberly, and in the fear of God, duly considering the causes

for which Matrimony was ordained.

First, It was ordained for the increase of mankind according to the will of God, and that children

might be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy name.

Secondly, It was ordained in order that the natural instincts and affections, implanted by God,

should be hallowed and directed aright; that those who are called of God to this holy estate,

should continue therein in pureness of living.

Thirdly, It was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of

the other, both in prosperity and adversity.

Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined.

Just imagine, a fourth of the world heard the gospel through the covenant of marriage.  The Archbishop of Canterbury did not mince words: "Christ did love his spouse the Church, who gave himself for it, loving and cherishing it even as his own flesh."  Prince William and Princess Catherine became the most visible picture of the gospel!

As I gazed enviably at the newly dubbed Princess Catherine I was struck by two thoughts.  First, I have my own prince whom I recently married.  Together we have the honor of displaying the picture of Christ and His bride to those around us.

                                                                     

Second, in Christ, I am part of a "chosen people, a ROYAL priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (I Peter 2:9)

At some point the picture will be reality.  "Hallelujah!  For our Lord God Almighty reigns.  Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!  For the wedding of the Lamb has come and his bride has mader herself ready." Rev. 19: 6 - 7

 

Christ, have mercy upon us.