King and subjects

The coronation of King Charles III will be in the form of a Christian religious ceremony. Traditionally, at the moment of the actual coronation, the choir invokes God’s Holy Spirit; the Sovereign sits in the Coronation Chair; four Knights of the Garter hold a canopy over the chair; and, concealed from view, the Archbishop anoints the Sovereign with oil (symbolic of God’s Spirit). This is the most solemn part of the coronation service, for by this anointing the monarch is set apart for the duties of a Sovereign.

The coronations of England’s kings and queens have been consciously conducted in the presence of Almighty God predating the Norman conquest. This is in recognition that there is a higher authority than the monarch and that the power to rule well will derive from God.

There is something for us to consider here: If kings and queens need to acknowledge that there is a higher authority than themselves i.e. God, shouldn’t we also? If kings and queens need divine help to fulfil their God-given purpose for this life, don’t we? Your current role may be that of a care-worker, schoolteacher, plumber, grandmother or office manager. Whatever it is, it can, and I believe, should be done as if working for God. Perhaps such a notion is alien to you - the following may help.

The Christian message is one of calling. God sent Jesus to call men and women to himself and so to God. As he is the King of all kings, it is his right to rule over each of us. We can live as rebels or, as pictured in the coronation, we can willingly acknowledge him as our supreme King and, in return, he will ‘anoint’ us with his Holy Spirit. Put simply, this anointing means God will take up residence in our hearts or soul or spirit – however you wish to define the real ‘you’.

Did you notice in the coronation described above that the anointing of the Sovereign is done outside of public view? When God reaches out to us at the time of our own ‘calling’, it is something that takes place away from public view, an intimate interaction between us and God.

As citizens of this country, we all, by default, are subjects of Charles III. Likewise, as creatures made by God we are his subjects – how does this make you feel?