An Asian Christian woman living in London blogging about the everyday issues of religion

Friday 29 April 2011

Analysis of the Royal Wedding Sermon


The sermon given by the Right Reverend Dr Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, at the royal wedding today was notable for the simplistic and faith ridden message it conveyed which cut across the pomp and splendour of the occasion. I am wary of preaching which extols the virtues of marriage to such an extent that it is beyond the measure of many but there was something in today's sermon which both married and non married people could draw upon. The folllowing part was particularly appealing:
"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."
The institution of marriage does not, in other words, have a monopoly on compassion, stewardship and societal obligations. We all do. That's the Christian faith stripped down to bare bones. Amen.

4 comments:

  1. Absolutely. Couldn't agree more. A perfect creed for a healthy way of life and ultimately a healthy world.

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  2. Dear Ray,
    Thank you for leaving a comment. The message of unity in the sermon was touching.
    Jane

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  3. Certainly the best wedding sermon I've heard - short, to the point, exactly fitting the particular circumstances, a relevant message for the newly married couple and for the wider world and with a clear message of good news about 'a generous God'. I've just read today's Times newspaper which has the text in full with explanatory notes alongside. I thought the message was simple enough not to need such notes.

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  4. Dear Nancy,
    I read The Times after reading your comment and I agree that the sermon did not need an explanation. What does it mean that a simple sermon needs explanatory notes-that people are so far removed from God that the concept of a sermon is alien to them?
    Thank you very much for stopping by. I am having problems adding your blog url to my list but will keep trying.
    Jane

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