Christ the King Sunday, 2021

Reassurance. Hope. Encouragement. These words come to mind as I think of Christ the King Sunday. 

Christ the King Sunday is the last Sunday in the liturgical calendar year. The following Sunday, the liturgical calendar begins again with the first Sunday of Advent.

Christ the King Sunday is a celebration with a forward look. It reassures us that Jesus is indeed Lord. It points to when “every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 3:11) — to when the kingdom of God will come on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10) — to when righteousness and justice will become the way of the world, producing endless peace that permeates all of creation (Isaiah 9:7). It calls us to live with hope — that forward look of faith. It encourages us to be faithful in living the ways of God Jesus taught and lived. Christ the King Sunday and the hope it stirs are the antidote to those times when we grow weary and become discouraged.

There is much today in our political arena (in Texas and nationally) and in The UMC that spawns discouragement (at least, for me): the hostility-laced polarization — rigid, black-and-white, anxiety-driven thinking that arrogantly masquerades as being “right” — the pattern of dismissing and devaluing anyone who holds a different position, viewing them as “wrong” and less than — what appears to be a move towards authoritarian thinking and functioning (the product of rigid, anxiety-driven thinking) — the fear of diversity and refusal to give everyone equal standing — the trafficking in fear and so-called cultural wars — the abuse of power by those who hold positions of power in a shameless effort to hold onto power — the tolerance and even approval of attitudes and positions that were once considered shameful — the growing use of violence against those we view as “other” — the growing economic divide between the haves and have nots — what looks to me to be societal regression — the predominance of Christian nationalism — those who call themselves Christians whose attitudes and positions are contrary to what Jesus lived and taught — the impending “split” of The UMC and our failure to “maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

I am aware that some (many) view the situation differently, but for me, these realities feel to me like I am swimming upstream, against the current. It is easy for me to feel out of place, having “nowhere to lay my head” (Luke 9:58). When I fail to ground myself in Christ, I grow weary of having to cope with having no place where I feel at home.

In the face of my weariness comes Christ the King Sunday. It is like a reset button for my attitude. It reassures me that Jesus is Lord even when what I call evil seemingly has the upper hand. It restores my forward look of faith, helping me see beyond what is to what will be, allowing me to live with hope — the settled confidence, the quiet assurance — that the kingdom will come on earth as it is in heaven. And it encourages me to keep on keeping on, being faithful to live the ways of the kingdom and working to bring the kingdom into reality on earth, today.

This reassurance, hope, and encouragement are not just wishful thinking on my part. They are anchored in the words of scripture. The words of the prophet Isaiah put it this way: “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this” (Isaiah 9:7). This yet-to-be reality is the LORD’s work. The LORD is actively working to bring the kingdom to reality on earth … even now, in the midst of all that seems so wrong.

And so I press on (Philippians 3:12-16).