Proud to be British... and Christian

It is not very often that we, the people of the United Kingdom, show an out-pouring of pride in our nation but I feel that that is what was seen yesterday as the Royal Wedding took place. 

Recently it seems like we have a lot of reasons to grumble and as this ability to complain is a wonderfully British trait, we embrace these things - taking them into our cynical hearts and treasuring the feelings of being hard done to by; a government who overcharges us on taxes, a National Health Service that is being undermined and weather that is mostly overcast. Frankly, fairy tales are not something that the British public seem to have a lot of time for amidst the worries of economic downturn, coupled with an affection for feeling like the underdog. Which is why it was particularly lovely to forget all of those things for a day and enjoy celebrating with the Royal family on the marriage of Catherine and William. 

The highlight of the day, for me, was generally seeing the immaculate organisation and the fun that seemed to be in the atmosphere of the crowd who were cheering Catherine and William on. I read a ridiculous quote in the Metro (classy) this week talking about people protesting over the "tyrannical" monarchy, and was glad to see that the majority of people in Britain were not of the same opinion- we all put our party hats on and ignored such daft statements! 

One of the most moving things about the day was that it was centred around the Christian ethics that are the foundation of our country and our law. Again, in the metro this week I read an article about the bible which talked about the fact that the Bible is no longer of relevance to us today. I was glad to see that this did not at all seem to be the case in the ceremony. I particularly enjoyed the Lord Bishop of London's talk. He really spoke to the couple and I loved his words and interaction with them so much I thought I'd post the words here: 

"Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire."


So said St Catherine of Siena whose festival day this is. Marriage is intended to be a way in which man and woman help each other to become what God meant each one to be, their deepest and truest selves.
Many are full of fear for the future of today's world but the message of the celebrations in this country and far beyond its shores is the right one – this is a joyful day! It is good that people in every continent are able to share in the celebrations because this is, as every wedding day should be, a day of hope.
In a sense every wedding is a royal wedding with the bride and groom as king and queen of creation, making a new life together so that life can flow through them to the future.
William and Catherine, you have chosen to be married in the sight of a generous God who so loved the world that he gave himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ.


In the Spirit of this generous God, husband and wife are to give themselves to one another.
Spiritual life grows as love finds its centre beyond ourselves. Faithful and committed relationships offer a door into the mystery of spiritual life in which we discover that the more we give of self, the richer we become in soul; the more we go beyond ourselves in love, the more we become our true selves and our spiritual beauty is more fully revealed. In marriage we are seeking to bring one another into fuller life.

It is of course hard to wean ourselves away from self-centredness. People can dream of such a thing but the hope will not be fulfilled without a solemn decision that, whatever the difficulties, we are committed to the way of generous love.

You have both made your decision today – "I will" – and by making this new relationship, you have aligned yourselves with what we believe is the way in which life is spiritually evolving, and which will lead to a creative future for the human race.

We stand looking forward to a century which is full of promise and full of peril. Human beings are confronting the question of how to use wisely the power which has been given to us through the discoveries of the last century. We shall not be converted to the promise of the future by more knowledge, but rather by an increase of loving wisdom and reverence, for life, for the earth and for one another.

Marriage should transform, as husband and wife make one another their work of art. This transformation is possible as long as we do not harbour ambitions to reform our partner. There must be no coercion if the Spirit is to flow; each must give the other space and freedom. Chaucer, the London poet, sums it up in a pithy phrase:

"Whan maistrie [mastery] comth, the God of Love anon,
Beteth his wynges, and farewell, he is gon."

As the reality of God has faded from so many lives in the West, there has been a corresponding inflation of expectations that personal relations alone will supply meaning and happiness in life. This is to load our partner with too great a burden. We are all incomplete: we all need the love which is secure, rather than oppressive, and mutual forgiveness, to thrive.

As we move towards our partner in love, following the example of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is quickened within us and can increasingly fill our lives with light. This leads to a family life which offers the best conditions in which the next generation can practise and exchange those gifts which can overcome fear and division and incubate the coming world of the Spirit, whose fruits are love and joy and peace.

I pray that every one present and the many millions watching this ceremony and sharing in your joy today will do everything in their power to support and uphold you in your new life. I pray that God will bless you in the way of life you have chosen, a way which is expressed in the prayer that you have written together in preparation for this day:

God our Father, we thank you for our families; for the love that we share and for the joy of our marriage.
In the busyness of each day keep our eyes fixed on what is real and important in life and help us to be generous with our time and love and energy.
Strengthened by our union help us to serve and comfort those who suffer.
We ask this in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen.