C, Christ the King Sunday “The Power of the King”
Luke 23:33-43
Prayer: In the name of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
In 1925:
In the midst of these social, political and world events, in 1925, Pope Pius XI publishes a letter (Quas Primas) sent to all Catholic churches and addressed the Old and New Testament teachings on the authority of Christ.
With this letter, the Pope universally instituted Christ the King Sunday in 1925. At this time, secularism was on the rise, and it was said that many doubted Christ's authority, as well as the Church's authority. The Pope intended for Christ the King Sunday to be a corrective measure and the Church’s response to a time of political, social and spiritual unrest. The kingship of Christ was emphasized in a time of rising world dictators, communist and socialist leaders.
In our day thankfully the KKK isn’t marching on Washington, the Scopes Monkey Trial isn’t being held, Hitler and Mussolini aren’t rising in power, but we have our own social and political events and debates—debates about immigration, health care reform, how to improve the unemployment numbers and fix the American economy. In the midst of our disagreements and debates, from time to time it is important for us to be reminded of the authority of Christ. The timing for this day on the church calendar is intentional as next Sunday we begin a new liturgical year and with that the seasons of Advent and Christmas.
Given that this is the last Gospel reading of this liturgical year and the day we call Christ the King Sunday, at first glance our Gospel reading is a strange way to end of the church year. Rather than Jesus encouraging his disciples, or reading about a post resurrection miracle, or Jesus giving the Great Commission for us to ‘go and make disciples,’ today our reading focuses on the crucifixion. As you would expect, this reading normally falls on Palm Sunday and Good Friday.
In our text, Jesus is actively dying on the cross. This is one of the most violent scenes we see in the scriptures, perhaps the part that causes us all to cringe as we see reenactments portrayed in movies. The setting is a dark picture of a beaten Jesus on the cross. At this moment in the scriptures, Jesus has been betrayed, arrested, humiliated, people are sneering at him; these are the last few hours of his life. A sign, mocking him is placed over his head that reads “This is the King of the Jews.”
We might wonder: is this the appropriate Scripture that speaks to the authority, the kingship of Jesus? Is this the best scripture to close out our liturgical year? We aren’t exactly ending on a high note with this text.
Digging a little deeper, I think this text was selected for an important reason. The crucifixion scene reveals the heart and the very nature of the Son of God, the one we call Christ. The scripture reveals that dying Jesus is not concerned with himself or saving his own life. But rather Jesus goes to God on behalf of those who kill him and intercedes for them. He prays “father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
A perfect Jesus asks for his attackers to be forgiven. This is remarkable, incredible love. In his life Jesus spoke and taught about how to love. He taught that greater love has no one than this than one lay down his life for his friends. In today’s text, we see that Jesus lived and exemplified this love not just with his life, but also with his death. Rather than his own life at this moment, he thought about his attackers and prayed for them. Rather than his own soul and spirit, he was worried about their soul and their spirit.
When we gaze upon what unfolds at the Cross we are captivated by the depth of Jesus’ love. The love and forgiveness he extended from the cross gets our attention; demands reverence and admiration. The scriptures reveal how Jesus chose to live, this text shows how he chose to die. It also shows how he chose to use his authority and power. It might look like Jesus is powerless. He uses his authority in an intentional way. Rather than fighting…or pleading…or condemning, Jesus chooses to forgive.
Maybe this is why we choose to follow him and why we consider him to be a king—even to be our king--because he used his power to extend love instead of anger, forgiveness instead of violence. He loved those who didn’t love him and extended forgiveness to them. The word Christ literally means Messiah or ‘anointed one.’ Only someone whose life was anointed by God could love so deeply. Only someone anointed by God could ask for forgiveness for his attackers and for us, despite what we do.
Jesus was not what we think an earthly king might be. Loving, redeeming and forgiving, he used his power and authority in counter cultural and counter intuitive ways. The result: he transformed lives and showed us how to live a life profoundly full of meaning.
Next Sunday we begin a new Church year. In a way, the seasons of the church year can be kind of counter intuitive and counter cultural. When we engage in them, they give spiritual meaning to our lives. Next Sunday we begin the season of Advent. The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the season is to prepare for the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Historically, the color of the Advent season is Purple. Here at St. Philip’s you’ll notice that we wear a dark blue color called sarum blue. Dark blue or purple is the color of penitence and fasting as well as the color of royalty to welcome the Advent of the King.
In Advent we will find that Jesus was not born to an earthly king or queen, but to Joseph and Mary in very humble circumstances. The anointed one, the Son of God will be born and laid in a Manger. From what we know of earthly kings this is unusual and counter intuitive. From the beginning of his life we see that Jesus isn’t like any king that we could imagine.
As we progress through December, retailers and those in advertising will tell us we’re in the Christmas season. But the Christmas season actually begins on December 24th and ends on Epiphany on January 6th—these are what we call the 12 days of Christmas.
Retailers want us to come in and shop and buy gifts. On Friday I was out doing some early shopping and Christmas music was already being played in the store. Later this, the Friday after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday, it will be the busiest shopping day of the year. The following Monday, is called “Cyber Monday” because of all the items shipped and purchased online.
For us to get the spiritual meaning of the season before us might mean that we take a counter cultural approach as we seek the spiritual meaning of the season, the spiritual meaning of Advent: rather than hitting the stores or buying things online, the season before us is about preparing for Christ’s birth.
Originally when it was instituted in 1925, the Pope intended for this day--Christ the King Sunday to be counter cultural--the Catholic response to dictators and rising world leaders. As Episcopalians, we aren’t under the authority of the Pope, of course. But for spiritual reasons, sometimes there is something to be said for being counter cultural.
As we end this liturgical year, this text reveals the heart of Christ and the very nature of our King. Just as he did from the Cross, Jesus continues to extend love and forgiveness to us. Jesus showed us how to use the power and influence that we have: to love and to forgive. Amen.
References:
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http://www.churchyear.net/ctksunday.html
http://www.brainyhistory.com/years/1925.html