The celebrations last weekend of the Diamond Jubilee have filled our TV screens and the papers all week. The rain threatened to dampen spirits for the River Pageant but the nothing seemed to deter the crowds that gathered that day and for the rest of the long weekend.

The only thing that marred the celebrations was the illness of Prince Philip and seeing the Queen without him in St Paul’s Cathedral and on the balcony of Buckingham Palace I felt saddened by his absence. As an article in The Guardian said 'the monarch cut a rather solitary figure as she processed alone.' 

Prince Philip has been there throughout the ups and down of the last 60 years and to be forced to miss the celebrations must have been a deep sadness to the whole Royal Family. Indeed the Queen described him as a 'constant strength and guide' in her recent Jubilee address to both Houses of Parliament. 

The other thing that struck me was Prince Charles calling the Queen 'Mummy'. Why not, of course? Both these strands come together in helping us to see that amidst all the pomp and ceremony there is really a family celebration. 'Who are my mother and brothers?' Jesus asks. The same question about natural family and extended family can be asked by the Royals too. Watch Prince Charles’ speech on YouTube. 

Reflection

NT Wright points out in his Mark for Everyone that Jesus’ teaching on the family, while scandalous to first century Palestinians, does not worry us so much because we already expect our families to move away and we sometimes have closer relationships with friends and neighbours than with our own children. (Wright, Mark for Everyone, SPCK, 2001, p.39) But Jesus takes this one stage further and links doing 'the will of God' with becoming brothers and sisters. 

This prompts two thoughts. First, that the Queen, in her increasingly overt expressions of personal faith, testifies that she has lived for the last 60 years a deeply committed life of seeking and doing the will of God. Secondly, that this path of life is open to each of us and we could do worse than to follow the Queen’s example of self-giving and service as we seek to become brothers and sisters through the will of God. 

It is only a short step from there to remind ourselves that the First Letter of Peter completes this circle. 'You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…,’ (1 Peter 2.9). By doing the will of God we are called into a special relationship as brothers and sisters, which confers on us a spiritual kingship.

The Diamond Jubilee has shown the humanity of our Royal Family, most especially through the illness of Prince Philip. The call to follow Jesus is a call to deep relationships between those who do the will of God. Deep relationships are costly, both in terms of time and emotion. They take time to create and develop, though maybe not 60 years!

Prayers

Holy God, those who do your will are called to live together as brother and sister and mother and father. Help us to know your will and to do it, to grow together as members of the same family and to serve you in the world. We ask this through Jesus, who is both servant and master. Amen.

A prayer for Prince Philip

O God, give comfort to all who are sick at this time, especially we pray for Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. We thank you for his years of commitment and support to Elizabeth our Queen and pray that soon he may be restored to her side in all that she does. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Questions

• What is the will of God and how do I know when I am doing it?
• I really find it hard to see my fellow Christians as my brothers and sisters, does this make me less of a Christian?
• What steps do I take in my day-to-day life that build up strong bonds within my local church?

Action

Watch the YouTube video clip of Prince Charles’ speech. You may have seen it a few times by now, but watch the Queen’s face closely. It is a deeply moving experience for her. Reflect on the ways in which she 'does the will of God.' How can you follow her example?

Young People

A family in the crowd on the Mall were asked what they thought of the Queen. A young man said 'She’s the greatest gran ever, she’s cool!' He then turned to his own grandmother and gave her a big hug and said, 'But not as cool as you, Gran…!' Think of an older person who is cool and if you can, give them a great big hug! If they are not nearby you could phone them or send a card to tell them that they are the Best!

Mark Beach has been Dean of Rochester for less than a month.

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