This is the last Sunday of the liturgical year. It’s a day to take a deep, calming breath before Advent begins. It is an opportunity to look back at the last year before heading into the new liturgical year. The scriptures give us tools to guide our examination of this last year. They all point toward the sovereignty of God, the Lordship of Christ and beg us to ask if Christ really is Lord of our lives and what that means.
The passage from 1 Samuel records King David’s last words. One particular line stands out for me: One who rules over people justly, ruling in the fear of God, is like the light of morning, like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land. There are a lot of rulers in this world who claim the authority of God and yet there is no peace. The latest election season hear in America highlights just how far from this vision followers of God can get. Not that I think America is a Christian country or that is should be, but many of those running for office claimed Christianity. Unfortunately, they left out the “fear” or more accurately for today’s culture the “awe” of God and the election became about their own power and authority. How often does a similar shift occur in our churches or our own lives?
The other readings for this week are filled with promises of God’s future presence. These are striking given the state of our world. With all of the disasters, war, and violence of this last year, do we really believe these words of scripture? I’m not sure we live as though they are true. Can any of us sing of God’s majesty today with the same conviction as the one who wrote Psalm 93? Sometimes I think that we value the works of human hands far more than the wonders of God’s creation. The sunrise is still more amazing than any technology, but how often do we take time to notice and give thanks?
When we read the words of Revelation, do we hear the hope and promise in this beautiful, mystical poetry or have we succumbed to those who would misuse this text? Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come. What gets in the way of this peace? Where do we lose track of the promise of Christ’s presence now and in the future? Do our churches embody this belief of do they worship the Christ they have known in the past and not the One who can be known today or the One who is to come?
And then we come to the Gospel text… Is Jesus king or sovereign in our churches or in our lives? It was difficult in Jesus’ day for his followers to understand and believe what he meant. And Christ’s Truth has gotten more difficult to discern with the chaos of today’s world. But it’s there for all of us.
So on this last Sunday of the liturgical year the question to ask ourselves is, “Where is Christ in my life?” And if we are brave, we might ask ourselves, “Where is Christ in my Church?” It may no longer be politically correct to talk about the Kingship or Lordship of Christ, but how else do we ask who or what rules our lives?
More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic than the waves of the sea, majestic on high is God! Your decrees are very sure; holiness befits your house, O God, forevermore.
RCL – Year B – Reign of
Christ Sunday – November 25, 2012
Series 1:
2 Samuel 23:1-7
Psalm 132:1-12 [13-18]
Series 2:
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Psalm 93
Revelation 1:4b-8
John 18:33-37
