The Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King Sunday – Rev. Aimee Baxter

 A movie came out recently titled, The Woman King. A friend of mine said she was at the theater with her son when the preview came on. At the end of it, he leaned over to her and said quite loudly, “Wouldn’t she just be called a Queen?”

On the flip side, another friend’s child observed after the death of Queen Elizabeth when Charles was named King, “Oh wow, they made a boy the queen?!” 

Kings, queens, and monarchies are all things we are familiar with, but at the same time living under that kind of leadership is a little foreign to us. We don’t fully know what life is like under the authority of a king or queen. And yet, kingship is a big part of our story both as a country and as Christians.

Today is Christ the King Sunday which is always the last Sunday on the liturgical calendar of the Christian year. We begin a new year next Sunday with Advent.

But what is it? The short answer according to the official Episcopal church website: It’s a day to celebrate Christ's messianic kingship and sovereign rule over all creation. In other words, Jesus is Lord of all.

I did a little digging and found out some interesting history. The Feast of Christ the King is a relatively young tradition in the church. It was started in 1925 (so less than 100 years) by Pope Pius XI as a direct response to Mussolini claiming that allegiance of the people belonged to the earthly supreme powers. It was put in place as a reminder to us, the people of God, who our allegiance belongs to.

Jesus has authority over all things, but as Melissa Hayes puts it, “Jesus’ “kingship” does not involve domination or triumphalism — but the radical, all-powerful compassion and love of Jesus seeking justice for all.”

Our readings for today give us some more insight into what that looks like.

Jeremiah tells us that God will gather up the sheep who are scattered and raise up a king that executes justice and righteousness throughout the land. “In his days, Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety.”

Our psalmist reminds us that God’s rule brings peace and asks us to lays down our weapons, to be still, and to know God is God.

Colossians asserts that all things are created in and through Jesus and that he will reconcile everything to himself by making peace.

Our gospel shows us that Jesus is the kind of king that welcomes the thief into Paradise. It’s ironic because the crowd and soldiers think they are mocking him, but he is actually modeling the kind of Kingdom he desires. One that is reconciled and brought together into himself, that extends grace to those that fight against him, and throws open the gates of heaven to anyone who desires to enter.

In other words, Jesus is the opposite of the leadership that sent him to the cross. Pilate and Herod both are rulers who are afraid to stand up for the right thing. Who are willing to let the people have blood on their hands. Ones that slip into the shadows when things get hard.

That’s not Jesus. Jesus is willing to go into the darkest places to bring peace and life to those that follow him.

In any organization, the tone is usually set by the leader. If your leader is selfish or prideful, as much as the people under their leadership may try, you can usually see signs or consequences of that behavior. The opposite is true. If you have a kind and generous leader, that usually shows up as well.

An example: I’m an Auburn grad and fan. If you have followed our football program recently, you know that things have been pretty rough this season and really before it. Apathy and frustration have been evident on the players and in the fans.

Three weeks ago, the leadership changed, and it is a whole different story. Y’all, I am telling you, it’s like night and day. The energy is palpable, and the passion is contagious. It’s fun to be an Auburn football fan again.

The leader, or in our context the King, makes a difference. So maybe one of the best ways to know the heart of a king is to look to what their kingdom is like…

Jesus talks a lot about what the Kingdom of God is like. You’ve probably heard some of them before. The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, a treasure hidden in a field, a pearl, a banquet, a party, a child.

If Jesus were to be talking to us right now, I wonder how he would describe the Kingdom of God. I imagine he would say…

The Kingdom of God is like a mother praying peace and protection over her child.

The Kingdom of God is like a community rallying behind and alongside someone in deep need.

The Kingdom of God is like advocating for those who don’t have access to basic needs.

The Kingdom of God is like saying yes to the presence and work of God in our midst.

The Kingdom of God is like knowing when to rest and be still.

And as Rachel Held Evans so eloquently put it, The Kingdom of God is like “a bunch of outcasts gathered at a table, not because they are rich or worthy or good, but because they are hungry, because they said yes. And there’s always room for more.”

In my research about Christ the King Sunday, I found a collect that All Saints Church in Pasadena wrote and prays on Christ the King Sunday:

Most Gracious God, who in Jesus of Nazareth showed us an alternative to the kings, queens and emperors of history, help us to revere and emulate Jesus’ leadership: To love, and to seek justice for all people. Help us to recognize the true grandeur and life-changing power based in loving you and all of our neighbors. In Christ Jesus with you and the Holy Spirit, may we co-create a world ruled not through domination, but in that radical and all-powerful compassion and love. Amen.