Isn’t it amazing how something so little can mean so much?
[While holding up and inspecting ring] A ring is a rather small object, isn’t it? Speaking from personal experience, I know that it is small enough that it’s easy to misplace. And it can be amazing when someone gives this small object, a ring, to another. But why do we exchange rings? This is an act which carries a life-changing weight. We know this to be true from our own culture. What happens when a team wins a world championship? They get a ring. Every team member. Just look to the reigning Super Bowl champions the New England Patriots. When they won last year Super Bowl last year (and the other 5 years they won), the NFL gave each player a Super Bowl ring. These rings conferred dignity, honor, respect, and authority – because let’s be real, who is going to mess with Tom Brady and his six rings? But really, isn’t is curious – and amazing – how something so little can mean so much? This is not only with sports, but also with royalty. What do monarchs receive on coronation day? In many countries, they receive a ring. In the United Kingdom, the archbishop places a ring on the fourth finger of the monarch-to-be as a symbol of “kingly or queenly dignity.” When queen Elizabeth received her ring, she entered into a covenant between monarch and people, that the monarch would care for her country, and her people would respect the monarch. This covenant is for the mutual joy of both the royals and their kingdom.[1] So, the ring confers dignity, honor, respect, authority. Something similar happens when a bishop is ordained. She receives a ring as an outward sign that she is married to the Church, vow to shepherd the congregations and represent Christ.[2] Dignity, honor, respect, and authority are conferred through this given ring. Talking about rings which, when exchanged, confer dignity, honor, respect, and authority – how could we not think of Lord of the Rings? This multi-billion-dollar industry claimed that there was only “one ring to rule them all” – and we bought into it! Millions of people sat through endless hours watching a group attempt [Hold up ring] to return this little piece of jewelry to a fiery pit…a piece of jewelry which conferred dignity, honor, respect, and authority to the person who received the small metal band. The movie makes sense to us, because we see this concept elsewhere. Lord of the Rings, the Super Bowl, coronations, ordinations… they all show us that rings, when passed from one person to another, carry great significance. Isn’t it amazing how something so little can mean so much? The bible also has stories about the exchange of rings; stories which show us more about the meaning and purpose of this exchange. Recall the story of Joseph – you know, the guy with the technicolor dream coat? Well, his brothers stole that coat, threw him in a pit, then sold him into slavery in Egypt.[3] While enslaved, Joseph earned a reputation as a dream interpreter. Pharaoh eventually brought Joseph in to interpret one of his dreams. Joseph did so favorably which won Pharaoh’s trust. So, Pharaoh gave Joseph his ring and, with it, dominion over all the land of Egypt.[4] Though Joseph lost his technicolor dream coat, he gained a ring – a ring which conferred dignity, honor, respect, and authority. [PAUSE] This was an act of grace. Joseph began as nothing to Pharaoh – just another enslaved foreigner in Egypt. But, by placing his ring on Joseph’s hand, Pharaoh and Joseph began a covenantal relationship. Vulnerability emerged. Persons and identity fused. Joseph became Pharaoh’s right hand, his mouthpiece, his confidant; and Pharaoh had to trust Joseph. The ring bound them together. Isn’t it amazing how something so little can mean so much? Then there’s this story of Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, who ruled during the time of the prophet Haggai and the temple’s reconstruction. God told Haggai that Zerubbabel would become God’s ring after God overthrew nations and uprooted social structures.[5] Though Zerubbabel didn’t receive a physical ring, he embodied one. By embodying a ring, Zerubbabel embodied dignity, honor, respect, and authority. God blessed Zerubbabel with the care for God’s people and as God’s agent on earth.[6] Zerubbabel and God had to become one in heart, mind, and soul if Zerubbabel was to act in accordance with God’s authority, which had been conferred to him – the ring.[7] And lest we forget about rings in the book of Esther. The king first gave his ring to Haman and then to Mordecai, both times explicitly transferring his kingly authority and implicitly conveying his trust by gifting the recipient a ring. You see, in Esther’s time, decrees required the seal of the king’s ring to be officially enacted. Thus, the ring carried a lot of weight. When both Haman and Mordecai were given the king’s ring, they were told that they could do whatever they wanted with the power as seemed good to them.[8] In the words of Spiderman, with great power comes great responsibility. Though one used the power for good and one for bad, the fact remains – the receipt of this ring gained dignity, honor, respect, and authority. Both men were granted the ability to speak, write, and declare on the king’s behalf…all because of a ring. In Mordecai’s case, this was an act of trust, mercy, grace, compassion, and love. All because of a ring. Isn’t it amazing how something so little can mean so much? Finally, a story with which we’re a little more familiar – the prodigal son. We’ve all heard it preached – son leaves home, family distraught, son returns, dad celebrates. Family reunion. Yet, no matter how many times we read this story or hear it preached, how often do we overlook the small detail with so much meaning? [PAUSE] What does the wayward son receive when he returns home? A ring. His father puts a ring on his son’s hand.[9] In this moment, the father forgives his son, blesses his return, and restores the relationship with his child. He acknowledges his dignity, honors his homecoming, respects him as his child, and restores previously held authority. Dignity, honor, respect, authority. All via a ring. Totally unearned; purely a gift. Purely an act of love. Isn’t it amazing how something so little can mean so much? And now, we find ourselves once again at the moment of the exchange of rings between two people. This time, from [NAME] and [NAME], and [NAME] to [NAME]. What happened in these biblical stories and cultural references – the transfer of dignity, honor, respect, and authority from the exchange of a ring – is happening here and now. This isn’t just some abstract phenomenon, but a real, earth-shattering moment to be shared between this couple before us. It is truly amazing that something so little means so much… So, [NAME] and [NAME], please come forward. [NAME], take [NAME's] right hand in yours and repeat after me… [MOVE TO VOWS AND RING EXCHANGE] [1] Language of mutuality from the BCP marriage rite. [2] BCP, 855. [3] Genesis 37:12-28. [4] Genesis 41:39-45. [5] Haggai 2:20-23. [6] Haggai 2:19. [7] One in heart, mind, and soul language from the BCP marriage rite. [8] Esther 3:7-11, Esther 8:8. [9] Luke 15:22. |