There’s a question we don’t get to ask every day! (Read it here, if you missed the sermon.)
We preachers are always excited about the possibility of preaching at a wedding (new audience!). Realistically, however, we know that no one goes to a wedding to hear the sermon. I often joke about that, telling the couple that they will fast-forward through this part of the service when they watch the video (hoping that they will rebel against my prediction and watch with rapt attention).
Then here comes the royal wedding! After the ceremony, even as the commentators turned their attention to the carriage ride and crowds outside, they were talking about that sermon. Bishop Curry, the leader of our own Episcopal Church, suddenly became trending on social media–he even got impersonated on Saturday Night Live! Preacher becomes rock star! A dream come true!
Following this exciting trend, Episcopal Churches and preachers everywhere posted videos, grabbing our 15 minutes of fame while we can. Before the spotlight fades, I offer a few thoughts of my own:
Nothing new to see here…
What excites me about our bishop’s sermon going viral is that what he offered was just that–the Gospel. For just a moment, Christians aren’t getting attention for fighting for their right to be mean! From the perspective of a media that assumes religion to be divisive and judgment, Bishop Curry’s simple message of love is a miraculous perspective. I hope that believers are not surprised. Jesus’ message is one of sacrificial love that changes everything. Bishop Curry did not misrepresent him. The bishop’s incredible rhetorical style might surprise us all (Did Prince Harry really say “Wow” when the sermon was finished?!), but his message should not. Love wins. Jesus brings the Creator’s message of love. Go and do likewise.
We know those words. Why do they seem so astounding?
The Power of Love. As he preached those words, clearly the bishop believed them, and the genius of his preaching is that he got his audience to believe it too, at least for a moment. As Christians can we seize that moment?
Living as if love is the last word on our lives is always the Christian challenge. We constantly try other ways, out of fear, out of habit, or just a lack of imagination. Perhaps Bishop Curry’s words can remind us, as worship is always meant to, of our true identity and calling. Believe it! Love is the way!
But, wait! There’s more!
Before the surprise of that sermon fades, let’s notice the disruptive power Bishop Curry harnessed. The juxtaposing of the bishop’s fiery words and his staid British setting was not lost on his audience. Sermons shouldn’t be disruptive, but as the camera moved back and forth from preacher to audience, the question was how that proper celebrity crowd would respond such an unconventional preacher. What would happen if we were to take a page from Bishop Curry’s playbook and be surprising?
“If you cannot preach like Peter, if you cannot pray like Paul, you can tell the love of Jesus and say he died for all.”
What would that look like? We don’t have to have a spotlight to be extraordinary.
Maybe it would look like patience, as we take time to consider the perspective and styles of others, foregoing judgment and giving space. What about forgiveness, if love, and not our own egos, come first?
Maybe it would look like humility, considering the possibility that we can learn from someone else. Generosity, hope, gentleness–these are all words that describe love in action.
Most of all, however, it will look like us making an effort, putting aside the default settings of superiority and competition in order to offer love. We should know that our efforts to be disruptive might not be well-received. Change, even for the better, is scary, but opposition and inconvenience doesn’t mean we are wrong. Jesus set out to change the world. Bishop Curry reminded us how that is done. What we do shows whose side we are on.