By Pr. Rhoda Klein Miller
Regardless of your views on the monarchy and commonwealth, King Charles’ coronation on Saturday May 6 offers some inspiring points of reflection for Christians and particularly Seventh-day Adventists.
This will be the first coronation of a British monarch in the 21st century. Faith leaders from the Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, and Buddhist communities will be among important dignitaries to greet the king at Westminster Abbey.
The ceremony will include an anointing symbolizing the spiritual role of his kingship with oil consecrated at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Since the time of Moses and the Exodus oil was used exclusively to anoint priests for Tabernacle service until Samuel began to anoint the kings of Israel. These positions though were merely stand-ins for the promise of an ultimate Priestly King, the Messiah, which literally means ‘anointed one’.
One of the scriptures to be read during King Charles’ coronation is Luke 4:16-21. This describes Jesus entering the synagogue on Sabbath, declaring these words from Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Unlike the pomp and circumstance and ornate screen enshrouding the anointing of King Charles, the Gospels record Jesus physical anointing occuring obscured by the crowds at a dinner party by a woman with her tears and costly perfume. How fitting for this Messiah who was not recognized or received by His own. His kingdom of heaven could only be appreciated by those seeking spiritual riches of hope, liberation and sight; by hearts longing for peace and grace.
The coronation of King Charles provides an opportunity for us to reflect on our own lives and our own citizenship in the kingdom of God. We can ask ourselves how well we are living out the principles of His kingdom in our daily lives, and how we can better reflect the love and compassion of Jesus Christ to those around us. This Saturday on May 6, “Clap your hands, all you people and shout to God with the voice of triumph for the Lord Most High is great King over all (Psalm 47:1-2)