Why I {LOVED} the Royal Wedding

I was expecting it to be magical.  

I was expecting Catherine to look stunning.  

I was not expecting Jesus Christ to be glorified ~ in front of how many million, billion?, watching. 

WOW!

From the Royal Wedding Programme, to the reading of Romans 12: 1, 2, 9-18 by Catherine's brother, to the sermon by the Bishop of London ~ the reverence of God was undeniably central to the union of these two people.

From Romans 12:

9 Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 

10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. 

11 Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. 

12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. 

13 Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers. 

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 

15Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 

16 Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. 

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. 

18 If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 

19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord."

20 No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." 

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

From the Sermon:

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. 


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.  

It is of course very hard to wean ourselves away from self-centredness. And people can dream of doing such a thing but the hope should be fulfilled it is necessary a solemn decision that, whatever the difficulties, we are committed to the way of generous love. 


Marriage should transform, as husband and wife make one another their work of art. It is possible to transform as long as we do not harbour ambitions to reform our partner. 


 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, we need 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. 


We ask this in the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

To the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge:  

I pray that God will richly bless your marriage,
your family, and your country.