Monday usually brings us back to the troubling things of this life, to the tedium of work, to unsettling times in relationships, to national, local, and even church partisanship, to stress coming at you from all sides, to countless other reminders that this world and life has been corrupted by sin, in short, to all that would take away peace from your heart and mind. Today’s funeral for Queen Elizabeth II gave me that peace which the world cannot give.
Since her death September 8, we have been learning more about the personal side of this very public leader. The memories of people close to her tell of a woman who was graced for life and leadership, in good times and in bad, by her Christian faith. The service, based upon the ancient Book of Common Prayer, was thoroughly centered on Jesus Christ. The Scriptures read and the hymns sung were dear to her, and she planned that this final service would convey the faith and hope that sustained her.
The Queen did not wear her faith on her sleeve but in her heart and life of service. The archbishop of Canterbury began his sermon: “The pattern for many leaders is to be exalted in life and forgotten after death. The pattern for all who serve God – famous or obscure, respected or ignored – is that death is the door to glory.” Would that America took that to heart! Service to others is laid upon all who are baptized into Christ. “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). And as Christ, who went from hardship and suffering unto death, was exalted to eternal glory at the right hand of God, so comes His promise to us. “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die” (John 11:25-26)
A little thing, but it gave me hope for the future. The hymns selected by the Queen are hymns known to many of us. The words were printed in the order of service, but I often saw the eyes of King Charles III leave the printed page to sing from memory. We pray love for God and love for the neighbor continue from generation to generation and be restored in our national life.