Chris McDonnell, UK
christymac733@gmail.com

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June 6, 2018

Recently, there was a Royal Wedding. These things happen, but this was different. The phrase 'culture shock' comes to mind, for long after the pomp and pageantry have become shadows of memory, the words of Michael Curry, Primate of the Episcopalian Church in the US, will still sing with freshness and spirit. He truly set the place on fire with his words of conviction and faith. Who would have predicted a few years back that St George's chapel in Windsor Castle would hear the names of Martin Luther King and Teilhard de Chardin delivered by an African-American bishop at the wedding of a royal couple, the bride herself an American of mixed-race? Culture shock indeed, but welcome.

His sermon, laced with the words 'fire' and 'love', had energy and humour, was rooted in the Gospel and forged by the experience of the American South. In his reference to de Chardin, came his casual, humorous aside - "Pierre Teilhard de Chardin - and with this I will sit down, we gotta get you all married - French Jesuit Pierre Teilhard de Chardin was arguably one of the great minds, great spirits of the 20th century. Jesuit, Roman Catholic priest, scientist, a scholar, a mystic" . Here was a man whose feet were planted in reality, for amid the high quality of his words, he reminded everyone of the purpose of the day. A wedding. Early on in his address, he said this. "But love is not only about a young couple...Now the power of love is demonstrated by the fact that we're all here. Two young people fell in love, and we all showed up." That's not a bad way of noting the response to a wedding invitation, even if some of the guests did look a bit puzzled at times.

We easily forget the culture shock provided by the presence of Jesus in his time and place, not only for what he said, but for what he did, those whose company he sought, those on the margins, the untouchables. Writing in the Washington Post in late May, E J Dionne Jnr. brings that discomfort into our present days, quoting from a recent declaration 'Reclaiming the name of Jesus'. Michael Curry was a significant contributor. As Christians, what we believe determines what we reject, what we hear spoken demands that we offer a response.

If "each human being is made in God’s image and likeness," then Christians have a duty to repudiate "the resurgence of white nationalism and racism in our nation on many fronts, including the highest levels of political leadership." A belief that "we are one body" requires opposition to "misogyny" and "the mistreatment, violent abuse, sexual harassment, and assault of women."

Because "how we treat the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the stranger, the sick, and the prisoner is how we treat Christ," Christians must oppose "attacks on immigrants and refugees" and "cutting services and programs for the poor" accompanied by tax cuts "for the rich."

Given the current political climate in the US we need not take a long walk to associate these words with that present administration.

We often hear the remark about a priest "He preaches a good sermon" . The skill of putting words together that have a firm foundation in faith is no small task. As a sermon is something we hear, the personality of the giver plays no small part in holding our attention. The tone of voice, the use of humour, depth of understanding are all qualities that vary one to another. I would suggest it would be no bad thing if the YouTube video of Michael Curry's sermon were viewed in Seminaries and anywhere else where our priests gather, not to be copied but to be understood for the nuance of language and his infectious humour that was there for all to see. Archbishop Desmond Tutu is another notable exponent of such joyful preaching. His laughter is a sermon in itself.

Only a few days after that Royal Wedding, we turned our thoughts to the first Anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Manchester Arena. I came across a news clip on YouTube of a young Muslim man, taken in the streets of Manchester just days after that pain-filled event last year. He stood, blind-folded, with arms outstretched with a notice at his feet 'I am a Muslim, I trust you, do you trust me? Do you trust me enough for a hug?

And strangers stopped and did just that, commented on his courage and thanked him for his action. One man, about the same age, grasped him with open hands and gave him a street-wise word "Respect, Bruv."

We gain respect by being who we are, even if our actions and words bring about a culture-shock for others. It is worth the risk.

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