In November the church year finally comes to a close. Beginning with Advent and Christmas the Christian year does not exactly coincide with the calendar year. This is because it revolves around Jesus Christ even as our life in faith is supposed to revolve around Jesus. The year ends this month with Christ the King Sunday. Compared to Christmas it is kind of a non event. Yet it is supposed to be a celebration of the fulfillment or all our hope, the culmination of our faith in Christ.

The Church Year tells the story of God’s Grace and love for humanity. It begins with preparation for the coming of the savior in Advent but for many of us it seems to loose steam after Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Most likely this is because it enters a time of transformation and uncertainty that has not yet come to an end. Our world and our lives not yet what they will be when all of God’s promises have been fulfilled. Christ the King Sunday closes the circle of God’s love and reveals God’s will for all creation.

When Jesus began his ministry he “came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news." (Mark 1:15) This simple statement is a profound revelation of God’s will. God’s intent for our lives is that we turn from where we are now, repent, and move along with Jesus into the Kingdom or rule of God.

The whole concept of a kingdom is part of our problem with Christ the King Sunday. We see it as the imposition of someone else’s will on our lives. Most of us don’t like being told what to do and we understand kings as people who tell us what to do. It doesn’t help that a lot of Christian history is taken up by rigid legalism as the church or state tries to grasp the authority of God for them-selves.

To resolve this issue we need to understand God’s intent. In ruling, in asking for our obedience what does God intend to accomplish? Is it really good news the way Jesus presented it? Saint Paul tells us in his letter to the Galatians; “For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

God’s rule then is not about controlling people, but it is about creating a world where we can truly live without fear and be the people God created us to be; the children of God. It is hard for us, though, to let go of the little control we have gained in a world where other people are more than willing to take advantage of us. This is the very essence of faith. The writer of Hebrews tells us “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things no seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) This is a hard teaching. It means that to truly enter the kingdom we need to let go of our fears and truly trust that God will be faithful, wants only the best for us and has the ability to accomplish these things.

Christ the King then is a symbol of freedom. Of a life where we know we are loved and accepted by a God who truly knows us as we are at the core of our being. It is a celebration of the fulfillment of all God’s intent for us, and for all creation.

This year let us join together on Christ the King Sunday, not as an afterthought, a blip in time before we move on to the Christmas holidays, but with joy and prayer as we continue to experience the transformation of ourselves and the world around us through the power of the Christ, the good shepherd, Christ the King.

Pastor Jim Bliss
November 2006

From our family to your family,
have a blessed Thanksgiving.
Pastor Jim & Nancy