Christ the King Sunday

Last weekend, we celebrated Christ the King Sunday! As we navigate the transition from fall to winter, surrounded by pumpkins, wreaths, and the anticipation of Christmas, it's essential to remember that, as Christians, we follow a different calendar—the Christian calendar. Last Sunday marked the end of the Christian year, culminating in Christ the King Sunday, and tomorrow we will embark on a new Christian year with the arrival of Advent.

In last week's sermon, we delved into Ephesians 1:15-23, where the apostle Paul, writing from prison, encourages the Ephesian church amidst division and persecution. He begins with a prayer of thanksgiving, asking for a spirit of wisdom and revelation for the believers. The key themes are wisdom, revelation, and hope—the ingredients for comprehending the immeasurable greatness of God's power. Paul emphasizes the unlimited power of God, a power demonstrated in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This power, unseen yet at work in the world, surpasses our human limitations. It's a power that accomplished far more than we could ask or imagine, as stated in Ephesians 3.

Christ the King Sunday directs our focus to Jesus as the ultimate ruler, seated at the right hand of God. This imagery echoes Psalm 47, emphasizing God's kingship over all the earth. The resurrection of Jesus symbolizes God's victory over evil and establishes Jesus as the ruler above all earthly powers. Unlike the world's perception of power, Jesus, our King, demonstrated a different kind of authority—one rooted in humility, sacrifice, service, and compassion. The Gospel accounts, especially the washing of the disciples' feet, exemplify this unique approach to leadership. Jesus came to establish a kingdom marked by love, forgiveness, and inclusion. This kingdom operates by different principles, not seeking political or economic power. Instead, it invites believers to live out humility, compassion, and service, following the example set by our King.

As we approach the holiday season, let's reflect on what it means to follow Christ the King. Imagine a world where believers display crosses and crowns of thorns in their decorations, signifying a commitment to the values of God's kingdom—justice, love, peace, hope, humility, compassion, and forgiveness. Let us strive to be a visible part of the kingdom of heaven on earth, where Christ reigns in our hearts and directs our actions.