Precision. The impeccable precision of yesterday’s state
funeral for Queen Elizabeth II was breath-taking. Involving so many hundreds of
participants on the ground, moving the casket, playing the sombre music,
singing and speaking and silences…and they didn’t have months to practice the
detail.
But although they didn’t have months to practice exactly
what happened yesterday, all those involved have had time to practice and
perfect their gift: be it preaching and presenting the gospel so clearly as
Justin Welby did, singing like the angels as the choristers did, or marching in
time and in step and in the right direction as so many of the uniformed
services (and their horses) did.
Always be ready, Peter advised those to whom he wrote.
Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you for the reason for
the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
The stage is set. A hush fell over much of the world
yesterday as billions watched the faithful servant Queen be laid to rest. She
set the stage. Now is the moment for followers of Jesus Christ to step forward
and share the reason for the hope they have. We don’t need to have all the
theological answers. We just need to be prepared to share what we know, our own
testimonies of God’s interaction in our lives, and of the truth revealed that
Jesus died for the sins of the whole world and offers salvation, peace, and
hope to all who love him.
May we be as faithful to our calling as Queen Elizabeth II
was to hers.
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