Now the beautiful sapphire and ruby ring is placed upon the Queen’s finger.  It weighs an astounding 84 and ½ carats.  Rubies form a glittering cross over the enormous sapphires, and fourteen diamonds encircle the stones.

This is the Wedding Ring of England, worn on the ring finger of the right hand.

We hold out our hands . . . what signet do we see there?  The Prodigal Son was adorned with the Father’s ring; the naked castoff was washed and clothed and given the jewels of honor to wear.  (Luke 15:22, Ezekial 16)

“Receive the ring of Kingly dignity, and the seal of Catholic faith.”  This is the band of faith in Jesus Christ, and it signifies ” ’till death do us part’ ” in her relationship with her people.

Does it sparkle, the ring upon your finger?  Does it gleam with promise?  Does it betoken love and eternal fellowship?

Famously, during the Coronation Service for Elizabeth’s Great Great Grandmother, Queen Victoria, the Ring was forced onto the wrong finger causing Her Majesty excruciating pain during the rest of the ceremony.  Here is a pithy and poignant reminder for all of us: despite the hundreds of admonitions written in Scripture for our encouragement, written to inspire our love, our devotion, our service, and our very high place in Christ Jesus our Lord, many do walk away from the Betrothal.  Never will He force it upon our finger.  Nearly all of us at times want the crown without the ring.

He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?  (Micah 6:8)

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness . . . Eph. 4:1,2

Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. (Colossians 3:1,2)

“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’  This is the great and foremost commandment.  The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

These are “Kingly dignity” passages, the call to a majestic vocation; may we, with deepest respect and reverence, bow before the King Who gives a ring, and takes us as His own in love.

The Coronation Ring

Wikipedia