Musings for Christ the King Sunday

Midweek Musings
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Christ the King
Lectionary 34 / Proper 29
Reflections by Gary Lazenby

INTRODUCTION
Even after Israel had experienced the vagaries of kings, they still longed for a true king to set things right. He would have the king's title of Anointed One (Messiah); he would be the "one like a human being" (Son of Man) given dominion in Daniel's vision. Jesus is given these titles, even though he is nothing like an earthly king. His authority comes from the truth to which he bears witness, and those who recognize the truth voluntarily listen to him. We look forward to the day he is given dominion, knowing his victory will be the nonviolent victory of love.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)
Almighty and ever-living God, you anointed your beloved Son to be priest and sovereign forever. Grant that all the people of the earth, now divided by the power of sin, may be united by the glorious and gentle rule of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

First Reading Daniel 7:9–10, 13–14
To the community for whom this passage was written, it seemed as though the oppression they were experiencing would never end. Daniel’s message is: It shall end. The Ancient One who is judge will call all nations to account and will give dominion to "one like a human being," the Messiah.

9As I watched,
thrones were set in place,
and an Ancient One took his throne,
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames,
and its wheels were burning fire.
10A stream of fire issued
and flowed out from his presence.
A thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him.
The court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.
13As I watched in the night visions,
I saw one like a human being
coming with the clouds of heaven.
And he came to the Ancient One
and was presented before him.
14To him was given dominion
and glory and kingship,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away,
and his kingship is one
that shall never be destroyed.

Psalm 93
Ever since the world began, your throne has been established. (Ps. 93:2)
1The LORD is king, robed in majesty;
the LORD is robed in majesty and | armed with strength.
The LORD has made the world so sure that it can- | not be moved.
2Ever since the world began, your throne has | been established;
you are from | everlasting.
3The waters have lifted up, O LORD, the waters have lifted | up their voice;
the waters have lifted up their | pounding waves.
4Mightier than the sound of many waters,
mightier than the breakers | of the sea,
mightier is the LORD who | dwells on high.
5Your testimonies are | very sure,
and holiness befits your house, O LORD,
forever and for- | evermore.

Second Reading Revelation 1:4b–8
The book of Revelation begins by celebrating the Almighty God, who spans all of time. Similarly, Jesus is celebrated as the firstborn from the dead who rules over the world’s rulers. He is the one whose return we eagerly await.

4bGrace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7Look! He is coming with the clouds;
every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.
So it is to be. Amen.
8I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Gospel John 18:33–37
In John’s gospel, the story of Jesus and Pilate presents two different ways of exercising power: through force or with love.

33Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 34Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" 35Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" 36Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." 37Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

Reflection:

When Jesus was living among people like Peter, Mary, King Herod, Pilate, and all of the thousands of other people, they just could not understand who Jesus was in this life. Some wanted him to be the king of Israel, others wanted him to be a doctor and heal the sick, others wanted him to be the greatest teacher of all time, and a few thought that Jesus should be the king of the whole earth. Jesus told them that he was not a king for this world but people would not believe him.

Jesus was to be the king of a new world, the kingdom of God. It is a world of peace and love and filled with joy. It is an honest world where people do not cheat or steal or murder. His world is a world where God rules but where people have clean hearts. This is the kingdom for Jesus. He is the great king, the Christ, who lives forever.

The people who live in this world could not understand him and since they could not understand him they were afraid of him and they wanted him to be put away, even killed, to make sure that a God of peace and love would not be their king.

Christ is our King and we will live in his Kingdom forever.

Let us Pray

• For those living under oppressive governments.
• For those who manipulate truth to their advantage.
• For those who know Christ as their King.

Quotes:
From the 1973 movie, Jesus Christ Superstar:

Jesus: “There may be a kingdom for me somewhere, if you only knew.”