CORONATION
Many are looking forward to the Coronation of King Charles III to be held on Saturday 6 May 2023. Some still remember the last Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 1 May 1953. Coronations are events steeped in longstanding traditions and pageantry with symbolic garments worn following instructions first set out in 1377. However the Coronation is a religious ceremony rooted in the Bible and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher, to help Queen Elizabeth in her new role prepared a devotional booklet for her. The first words were a prayer from the Bible, Psalm 25 verses 4 & 5. “Show me your ways. Lord. Teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long” Then he added these words “The whole life is a journey to God”.
This leads us to a Coronation (Marriage of the Lamb – Revelation 19:7) when Jesus will be declared King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16). He was sent by God to be the Saviour of the world (1 John 4:4) and he fulfilled this purpose when he was crucified on the cross. (John 19:30). Guests at this Coronation will be those whose sins have been forgiven by trusting in Jesus as their Saviour on their “journey to God” as wisely brought to the attention of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
The challenge for us all is to ask the question – are we ready to meet God?
Finally the UK National Anthem is a prayer which commences “God save our gracious King” and that would be our desire for everyone who reads this short reflection on the Coronation.