What has the Royal Wedding got to do with anything? I ask this question because of the ambivalence to the event that I noticed across the Catholic blog-o-sphere. There was either nary a mention of it anywhere, or derisiveness when it was mentioned.
What's the story? Jealousy of the royals? Feelings of inadequacy? Bunch of rich guys...to hell with 'em? Was the prince's red-coat stirring your loins for battles your ancestors fought long ago? You can't stand monarchies, perhaps?
Or is it the spectacle that is made of it? The profligate waste of capital on a mere ceremony, that one blogger said could have been done for $100 in front of a humble priest? Seriously?! Judas would agree with you there. Catholics who are normally turning victory laps over pageantry, beautiful churches, sumptuous robes and incense all of a sudden announce that they aren't fans of the Royals, etc., etc.
Have a look at how Christ, Our King, puts it,
The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched his servants to summon the invited guests to the feast, but they refused to come. A second time he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those invited: "Behold, I have prepared my banquet, my calves and fattened cattle are killed, and everything is ready; come to the feast.'
Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged and sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Then he said to his servants, 'The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.' The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment.
He said to him, 'My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?' But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, 'Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.' Many are invited, but few are chosen.
Jesus is a Royal. Have you forgotten? And even though you wouldn't have known it to look upon Him when he was on his thirty-three year mission to save the world, I've got news for you. You'll know it when you meet Him the next time.
And haven't you heard what the Holy Spirit said through St. Paul?
For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendant, heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:26-27)
Oops. Yes, staring right back at you in the mirror is another Royal. You've been given a peerage, and now you have to live up to it. Gulp! It's hard to acknowledge that, but it is true. It's exactly what the first lines of yesterday's wedding homily made clear. "Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” St. Catherine of Siena doesn't pull any punches either.
Like in the parable of the wedding feast above, the world was invited to a wedding feast yesterday. "Some ignored the invitation and went away," and then the losers like me were invited too. That is how Grace operates. It's unearned. You could get all wrapped up in feelings of inadequacy in realizing that you didn't deserve to be invited, or you can just be grateful for being invited at all, go, party, and bask in the glow of it all. And then, get back to the business of bringing others to the Feast.
Because here's something else His Majesty, Our King said that might help us understand our calling as Royals,
Jesus said to them, "The light will be among you only a little while. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness may not overcome you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of the light." After he had said this, Jesus left and hid from them. (John 12: 35-36)
Which is why our first pope would go on to say,
But you are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises" of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)
That, as my friend Forrest Gump would say, is about all I have to say about that.
Update: I'm with the Archbishop of Westminster on this one!
