Sermons from St. Thomas
Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King. 22 November 2015: II Samuel 23:1-7, Psalm
132:1-13, Revelation 1:4b-8; John 18:33-37
Today is Christ the King Sunday, the final Sunday of the liturgical year. Next Sunday we begin a new church year with the first Sunday in Advent. The Church Year is organized around key events in the life of Jesus. Advent is about the expectation that preceded his birth and his coming again. Christmas celebrates the incarnation. Epiphany marks his manifestation to the Magi and to the whole world. The season after Epiphany remembers his baptism, calling the disciples, embarking on God’s mission. Lent is about his temptation and ours – and how we learn to follow
Jesus in baptism. Holy Week remembers his death. Easter season celebrates his resurrection and the new life God offers to us all. Pentecost and the season after celebrate the coming of the Holy
Spirit and the Church’s call to go to all the world and follow in the way of Jesus. And it all ends today – with Christ the King Sunday.
We know what to do on Christmas. We know what to do during Holy Week. And we know how to celebrate Easter and Pentecost. We know what all of those days and celebrations mean to us.
What in the world do we do today, on this day to which all of the other days point?
Let’s start with what we do not mean when we celebrate Christ the King.
We do not mean that Christ is like any sort of earthly king. Jesus said it clearly to Pilate – My kingdom is not from this world. I’m as fascinated with earthly royalty as anyone. I love to visit palaces and can’t wait for the next season of Downton Abbey. But that is not the kind of king or reign we celebrate this day. Earthly kings those with titles hold power tightly and hoard privilege and power for themselves and their families. When Jesus came, he came to a family in poverty, lived among the masses, taught people not to retaliate, and shared God’s abundance. Christ is not like any earthly king.
When we celebrate Christ the King we do not mean Christian triumphalism. This is not a day to, in the name of Christ, attack those who do not claim the name of Christ. We as Christians have come to know Christ as King and we are grateful to live under his gracious rule. But the number one rule of his kingdom is love – love God with all you have and love your neighbor as yourself.
Jesus did not teach us to attack, demean, or persecute those who do not follow him. He called us to convert and baptize them by bearing witness to his love and the values of his kingdom in our lives. This is not a day to attack Muslims or Buddhists or atheists or Christians with whom we disagree.

When we celebrate Christ the King we do not mean that Christ has absolute control over everything that happens in the world. Even the most powerful, most benevolent, most wise earthly monarch will have enemies and adversaries who attempt to thwart her rule. So on this day we do not blame Christ for ISIS or global instability or ineffective government or cancer.
We do not say “If Christ is King why doesn’t he fix our problems.” We understand his power works through presence and love, not control.
Finally, when we celebrate Christ as King we do not mean that Christ reigns in secret now and will someday be revealed as King and we just have to wait in the meantime. I sometimes hear people say things like that. We do confess in the creeds that he will come again to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end. We live in the profound hope that someday God in Christ will bring all things to their ultimate good. But proclaiming Christ as
King is not an invitation to passive resignation, as if all we need to do is just hold on, live and let live, try not to be too anxious, and someday Christ will fix it. Christ is King now – even now, despite what sometimes seems like all evidence to the contrary.
So here’s what we do celebrate this day. Christ is King. The way of Christ – the way of justice and equity and love – is THE way to life. The fearless, self-giving love he demonstrated and empowers in us is the most powerful force in the universe – more powerful than political systems or economic markets or our bodies or even our families. We just spent an entire church year hearing the story of Jesus. This day declares that Jesus was not just a nice guy who taught some good things. We dare to proclaim this day that his teaching and example are the only truth in the world worth living for and we give ourselves again to his reign. Christ is king.
During Advent, we light the Advent wreath. For Christmas we put up a tree and sing carols. On
Epiphany we welcome the Magi and burn a little incense. On Ash Wednesday we mark our heads with crosses. On Palm Sunday we wave the palm branches. On Maundy Thursday we wash our feet and strip the altar. On Good Friday we kneel at the cross. On Easter we sound the trumpets and fill the church with lilies. On Pentecost we wear red.
What are we supposed to do today?
In light of the things we do not declare on this day, I offer four possible celebrations.
First, Jesus was not like any earthly king. One of the marks of royalty in Jesus’ day and ours was that it was passed down through families. Royal titles and the privilege that came with them were an accident of birth. Thank goodness our founders rejected that way of life. Thank goodness we live in culture where there is some freedom to move between social classes, though it can be hard. But we have maintained one of the practices of earthly royals. We still feel an expectation to keep our wealth in our families. I’m not just talking about super wealthy folks here. I’m talking about anyone who has a will or a life insurance policy or any kind of asset that could be passed on to others. We do have an obligation to provide for our families and ensure their basic needs are met. But Christ the King reminds us our possessions are entrusted to us for the care of

the whole world, not just those related to us by accident of birth. One way to celebrate Christ the
King Day is to think about the legacy we intend to leave behind. After basic necessities for our families are covered, how might what we pass on to others reflect Christ’s rule in this world and in our lives. If our kids don’t really need everything we have accumulated, how might God call us to leave our assets for the transformation of the world? Maybe Christ the King Day could also be “Think About Your Legacy Day” for Christians.
Christ the King Day is not about Christian triumphalism. Jesus called us to bear witness to his way and make disciples among all people. Most Christians know and spend most of their time with other Christians. We often do not know people who practice different faith traditions. We do not know people who practice no faith at all. How will we bear witness to the abundant life of
Christ and build bridges of understanding if we don’t know anyone who is not a Christian?
Maybe Christ the King Day could also be “Befriend Someone Who is Not a Christian Day” for
Christians.
When we celebrate Christ the King Day, we do not mean that Christ controls everything that happens in this world. The evil forces of this world do wreak havoc around us. We promise to renounce them in baptism, so we acknowledge that they are real. But then, deep in our hearts, we harbor resentment at God for the evil that comes to this world and to us. We wonder how a loving God could allow so much suffering and pain, while failing to recognize how much God weeps with us and that some of the suffering in this world is our responsibility. Our questions drive a wedge between us and God. Maybe Christ the King Day could also be “Wash Ourselves with God’s Tears and Acknowledge Our Part in the Problem Day” for Christians.
Finally, Christ the King day is not a passive declaration that Christ’s reign will someday come to fruition and we just need to hold on. Christ is King now. We just don’t act like it. Maybe we should call it “Christ IS King Day” and then live like it.
Happy Christ the King Day.
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© 2015 The Rev’d Grace Burton-Edwards
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
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Columbus, GA 31906
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