Christ the King Sunday
Christine Arnold
Today is Christ the King Sunday, sometimes referred to as the Reign of Christ. Unlike other notable Sundays which have been on the church’s calendar for thousands of years, Christ the King Sunday has been celebrated for less than one hundred years. It was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925. Why was it instituted then? It was instituted in response to the world events that had occurred over several years. Europe had just emerged from a period dominated by warfare. There was the Crimean war, the Boer war, and the First world war. It was clear that the kings and earthly rulers, especially in Europe seemed to represent greed, corruption, and cruelty. There was an absence of the values that the gospel teaches us. So, the church wanted to remind itself that there was a higher power than the earthly powers that dominated their daily living and dying.
The kings of this world were potentially flawed and fallible. The laws they put forward and doctrines they upheld were human in origin. But there was a higher authority – God. So, Christ the King Sunday was introduced on the last Sunday before Advent to remind us that God rules over all. A god of love and justice. While the kingdoms of this earth might be flawed and corrupt, we can look forward to and even be partners in building God’s kingdom here on earth.
We are nearly 100 years on from when Christ the King Sunday was instituted and the events that led to its institution. However, we can see that similar events have continued in the world since 1925. The Second World War, the Korean War, the Afghanistan War, and currently the Ukraine War and the Israel/Palestine War. The desire of earthly rulers for power and domination has not abated. We are still in need of this reminder that there is a greater power. That there is a universal kingdom that values all people.
Psalm 93 reinforces this greater power. “The Lord is King; he is robed in majesty; he is girded with strength. He has established the world, and it shall never be moved.” God is greater than the might of the waters and waves.
We still have kings and royalty today. There was a belief across most countries with a reigning monarch in the past that the King was part of a divine order. Charles the First lost his head largely because of his belief in the divine right of kings. But kings in our society are worldly in their origin. They are members of a family that has risen to the top of the social order, often by fighting and murder and then by inheritance. Their status puts them at the top of a hierarchy of privilege. Whatever their commitment to service or to live without undue influence they remain people of privilege by birth and by status. They have palaces, jewels, landed estates, and lots of money. This privilege is not what we think of when we talk about Jesus as King. Most of the world’s population does not have this level of privilege. Jesus came for all people. He did not come as a king but as a carpenter who was despised by the Jews and crucified. Jesus does not call himself a King. It is others that give him this title. Pilate asked him “ So you are a King?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a King.”
So why has the church given Jesus the title of King? This desire for a king goes back to the time of the Israelites. There was a need for unity between the tribes of Israel, so they asked God for a King like other nations had. Through Samuel God warned about the dangers of kingly power. The Israelites and ourselves have seen these dangers come to fruition. King is a title that was understood by people. So, this is a title that has been given to Jesus to show his power in the world. But his power is not worldly power. In John 18 he says, “My kingdom is not from this world.” “ I came into the world to testify to the truth.” The truth is that God is the overall ruler, and everyone has a place, is loved, and is important.
This leads us to the idea of kingdom. We talk a lot about the kingdom of God. What is it that we are talking about? This kingdom is not about heaven. It is about God’s kingdom coming and already here. It is about a transformed world, a radical makeover of society and domination systems.
We are called to be partners in building God’s kingdom on earth. Jesus showed us the way to do this. This is not easy; some may say it is impossible. But we must believe it can be achieved a bit at a time, otherwise we might just give up.
So where do we see God’s kingdom today?
We see it in our worship, here and on Thursdays – A place where songs and prayers, talking and thinking, the companionship of those around us, allow us to know God.
We see it when we commit ourselves to one another – to a way of living – honouring our neighbours, being generous in our service, and loving in our attitude; like when you visit someone who needs some company or offer to help someone out.
We see it when words of hope are celebrated and words of judgment are challenged, when we dare to challenge the status quo and speak the truth to power; when newspapers print the story of the underdog and fight for justice.
We see it when children are valued and celebrated; when we come together for school prizegivings and grandparents’ days at preschool; at our preschool music groups and Playful Generations.
We see it when older people are encircled and comforted and cared for; when outings and foot clinics and meals are provided for the elderly.
We see it when sorrow is permitted, and people are surrounded by caring friends.
We see it when tears are allowed to find their way to the surface – and it is safe.
We see it when people are loved for who they are and for what they might yet be.
We see it when people engage in risky living: careless generosity and giving of themselves, caring for the environment and all earth’s creatures, and becoming skilled at turning the other cheek, taking a deep breath, and resisting the urge to put themselves ahead of others.
In all these ways, and many others we see glimpses of the Kingdom. Progress is being made.
When Jesus is King, it will not be based on privilege and power. In fact, it will be the reverse. When Jesus is King, everyone will have enough for their needs, everyone will have a voice, and everyone will know they are loved by God. And we have an important part in making this happen. When we reach out to the people in our society in need of help, when we make a stand for justice, when we care for the earth God has given us as our home, then we work with God to build his Kingdom on earth. So, when we acknowledge Jesus as our King, we need to recognise that we have a role alongside him. Jesus’ kingdom is not one of status and privilege. It is one where the least are the greatest. It is one where we must all share the responsibility, for in God’s kingdom the weak can be strong. We are empowered for service.
From this Sunday, we look forward to the season of Advent. We see Jesus, not as the King coming to reign, but as the one who comes as a baby in a manger. Yet it is the same Jesus who is King of Kings and asks of us our all. So, let us remember now.
- The baby born in Bethlehem.
- The one who calls us to follow.
- The one who testified to the truth.
- The one who died and rose again.
- The one who enables us to work with him to help build his kingdom here on earth.
All these are the One we worship. All of these are the One we serve. Humbly we commit ourselves to saying, “My God and my King.”