There were many special moments during Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding on May 19 — too many to count, really — but Bishop Michael Curry’s address stands out as one of the highlights.
Curry, the first Black leader of the Episcopal Church, delivered his sermon shortly before the now-Duke and Duchess of Sussex said their vows. “The late Dr. Martin Luther King once said, and I quote: ‘We must discover the power of love, the power, the redemptive power of love. And when we do that, we will make of this whole world a new world. But love, love is the only way,'” he said toward the beginning of his speech. “There is power in love. Don’t underestimate it. Don’t even oversentimentalize it. There is power, power in love.”
He continued: “If you don’t believe me, think about a time when you first fell in love. The whole world seemed to center around you and your beloved. Oh, there’s power, power in love. Not just in its romantic forms, but any form, any shape of love. There’s a certain sense in which, when you are loved and you know it, when someone cares for you and you know it, when you love and you show it, it actually feels right. There’s something right about it. And there’s a reason for it. The reason has to do with the source. We were made by a power of love. And our lives are meant to be lived in that love — that’s why we are here. Ultimately, the source of love is God himself. The source of all of our lives.”
Later, he asked the guests to “think and imagine” what the world would be like if we lived in that love all the time. “Think and imagine a world where love is the way. Imagine our homes and families where love is the way. Imagine neighborhoods and communities where love is the way. Imagine governments and nations where love is the way. Imagine business and commerce when love is the way. Imagine this tired old world when love is the way. … When love is the way, there is plenty of room, plenty of room for all of God’s children. Because when love is the way, we actually treat each other, well, like we are actually family.”
He concluded his 13-minute address with another reference to Martin Luther King Jr. “Dr. King was right. We must discover love the redemptive power of love,” he told the crowd. “And when we do that, we will make of this old world a new world. My brother, my sister, God love you. God bless you. And may God hold us all in those almighty hands of love.”
Prior to the wedding, Curry spoke to CBSabout his plans — or lack thereof — for the sermon. “I have no idea, I’m just going to show up,” he said. “I’ll never forget, my daddy told me when I was fairly new as a priest, he said, ‘Just always be who you really are. Don’t pretend to be someone else.'”
What did you think about Bishop Michael Curry’s address? Let us know @BritandCo!
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