THE QUEEN'S JUBILEE

A Homily by Bishop Mercer preached on June 2, 2002

June 2,1953. A young woman is at the holy communion. An Anglican, married, with two small children. She is dressed in a long white alb like this (alb is Latin for white). She sits in an uncomfortable wooden chair. There is some story, not necessarily true, that this chair was once the throne of a holy king of England, St. Edward the Confessor. On a shelf under the chair is a stone on which the old kings of Scotland sat for their coronations. There is some story, almost certainly untrue, that this stone was used by Jacob as a pillow when he was escaping from his brother Esau, at which he had his dream of a ladder between heaven and earth (Genesis 24, 11 - 12). The interesting thing, though, is that both Scots and English tried, however implausibly, to associate their kings with holy personages of the past.

The Archbishop of Canterbury prays the collect at the altar. The senior Presbyterian minister in Scotland presents the woman with a Bible, saying, "This is the royal law. These are the lively oracles of God." The Bishop of London reads the epistle, the very one we have just heard. The Archbishop of York reads the gospel, the very one we have just heard. The choir sings the Nicene creed, the very one we have just sung.

All then sing the well known hymn, which you and I have sung often enough, "Come Holy Ghost, our souls inspire". From the altar the Archbishop brings a golden container shaped like a dove, to suggest the Spirit of God. He pours olive oil from it into an ancient spoon. Then dipping his thumb in oil, the Archbishop anoints the woman on forehead, hands and breast, praying, "Who didst consecrate kings, priests and prophets to teach and govern Israel, make holy Thy servant Elizabeth to be consecrated queen. Strengthen her with the Holy Ghost the Comforter, the Spirit of wisdom, of understanding, of counsel, of might, of knowledge, true godliness, holy fear," words your bishop prayed over you at your confirmation. As you know, the word Christ means oil. This sacred moment is shielded from sight by four knights holding a canopy over the woman. The choir bursts into a thunderous anthem specially composed for such events by Handel. Organ, trumpets, drums. The words refer us back to the First Book of Kings, 9: "Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed Solomon king. And all the people said God save the king" (1, 39 - 40 and 45).

And so the peoples of Antigua, Australia, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, and through the alphabet, receive a queen to be God's servant to us. In the collect this morning we prayed, "that she knowing whose minister she is may above all things seek Thy honour and glory". All very different from, say, the swearing in of a French president. Here is no separation of church and state, no distinction between sacred and secular. All life is under the Judgement of God.

The woman is then vested in glittering vestments which look remarkably like those of a bishop. A ring is placed upon a finger. It's nicknamed the wedding ring of England, but the Archbishop calls it, "The seal of catholic faith". She is handed various items of regalia. A golden ball called the orb. It's topped by a golden cross. Orb is Latin for world. The Archbishop reminds her, "The whole world is subject to the empire of Christ". Several swords, several staves, are given her. With one sword she is told to protect the church of God. Each staff is surmounted either by a cross or by a dove. With one staff she is told, "So to execute justice that you forget not mercy". Finally a heavy, a very heavy, crown is placed upon her head. The crown is called St Edward's. It too is surmounted by a cross.

These ceremonies done, the holy communion service proceeds, in which Christ is made present by the taking of bread and wine, by the breaking of bread9 by the eating of bread and drinking of wine. The woman brings bread and wine to the Archbishop of Canterbury for Christ the Great High priest to use. So large is the congregation that only the Archbishop, the woman and her husband receive holy communion. Others who wanted to receive have done so at early services in other churches. Before the blessing God is praised, "Glory be to God on High". And then, as if to emphasize the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the only Ruler of princes, God is praised yet again, "We praise Thee 0 God. We acknowledge Thee to be the Lord. All the world doth worship Thee the Father everlasting".

The flag of Canada is carried in the procession. The Prime Minister of Canada walks in the procession. A former Governor General of Canada has carried the orb in procession, Lord Alexander of Tunis. An anthem by the Canadian composer, Healey Willan, is sung at one point in the service. Outside in the pouring rain Mounties ride their Canadian horses in the parade back to Buckingham Palace.

St. Paul tells the Corinthians, "Be ye steadfast, unmoveable". Another word for steadfast is stable. Another word for steadfastness is stability. Fifty years ago our Queen succeeded to office. Fifty years ago she was given work to do. Today we meet to thank God that she has simply gone on doing her duty. She has kept the promise she made to God on June 2,1953.

What of us? We have been baptized, confirmed, married perhaps, ordained perhaps. We too have made promises. Steadfast. Unmoveable. Always abounding in the work of the Lord. When we hear St Paul's words we are embarrassed by our instability, faithlessness, broken promises, unreliability. But such is the mercy of God even our unfruitful waverings and wanderings may be used by Him. Know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. So today with our Queen we renew our service to God. "That we knowing whose ministers we are may above all things seek Thy honour and glory".

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