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We gather on this, the last Sunday of the
Christian year, to reflect on Jesus Christ and our
relationship with him. Christ the King Sunday provides
us the opportunity to look beyond the historical Jesus
to see Christ, who exerts power over all things on earth
and in heaven. We claim Jesus once again as the Lord
whom we follow all the days of our lives.
We are constantly being lured or pulled in many
different directions that make it difficult for us to
live out our faith. We have just celebrated
Thanksgiving with our family and friends, and then are
catapulted into holiday shopping frenzy with stores
opening early and closing late. While we might not want
to admit it, if we are not careful, shopping can be
detrimental to our relationship with Jesus Christ. The
temptation during the next month might be to skip
worship and shop early on Sunday mornings.
Then there is the
“economy” that is a power in our lives. We are
concerned with the slumping economy and high fuel costs,
wondering if we are headed for a recession. We blame
the economy for our misery as well as our happiness. We
cannot see, put a face on, the economy. “Don’t blame
me” the politician will say, “I can’t be held
responsible for a downturn in the economy.”
There are other powers at work in our world.
Next year’s presidential election has been in the news
for quite some time, with seemingly weekly debates
between the candidates. We tend to view politicians as
powerful people. While seeking election, many will
promise that if elected he or she will make changes in
government. Then, once they are in office for awhile,
they claim that there are forces “beyond their control”
why they have not delivered on their campaign promises.
There other powers at work in our lives and in
our world. What I named as powers, our spiritual
ancestors might have labeled “gods”, small “g”, and
named them Mars, Jupiter, and Venus, telling stories
about them.
Our Epistle lesson is from Paul’s letter to the
Colossians. The believers were struggling with the
powers that be. Paul began his letter giving thanks for
their positive example, “for we have heard of your faith
in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all
the saints…” In times of confusion we need positive
examples of faith. And we also need to realize that we,
too, serve as examples for others just starting their
walk of faith.
The powers that be, that seemingly control their
lives, Paul says to put behind them and remain focused
on Jesus. Instead of worrying about the economy, or the
political process, or any other power that seemingly has
control on our lives, look to Jesus. He is stronger
than all other worldly powers. With our focus clearly on
Jesus, we can live our lives full of confidence. Paul
writes, “May you be made strong with all the strength
that comes from his glorious power.” Nothing, no one,
can ever take away the power of Jesus in our lives.
Keeping Jesus at the center of our lives gives
us strength to daily battle with the powers competing
for our allegiance. We are rescued from the powers
because of our faith in Jesus Christ. It is almost as
though we are transferred into the kingdom of “his
beloved son.” Jesus gives us the victory. We stand up
over and against the powers of this world knowing that
we belong to Jesus—we are a part of his glorious
kingdom.
Paul continues describing Jesus as, “the image
of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”
Scholars believe that Paul is quoting an early Christian
hymn. There is much theology in the hymns that we
sing. I remember a professor of worship stating that,
if he were stranded on a deserted island and could only
bring two books, he would bring the Bible as well as the
hymnal.
According to this early Christian hymn, when God
created the world, Christ was at God’s side, “the
firstborn of all creation.” In Christ all things were
created, “visible and invisible.” Christ was more than
a mere spectator but, “in him all things hold together.”
Christ is the glue that holds all things together.
Knowing that Christ holds all things together gives us
the confidence we need to live our lives. At those
times when everything around us seems to be falling
apart, we stand firm in our faith in Jesus Christ.
Jesus gives us the strength each and every day to endure
and even thrive.
As we wrestle with the powers that be, and
sometimes that struggle creeps into the church, we need
to remember that Christ “is the head of the body, the
church.” Perhaps you have heard about individuals in
other churches who want to control everything that goes
on in the life of the church. When a new idea surfaces
they are the ones to quickly deny the request. And when
they do not agree with the direction the church is going
they threaten to stop contributing or leave the church
completely. I’m glad we do not have such people here in
our church, but I know that there are other churches
where such people are a problem. Jesus Christ is the
head of the church.
There’s more - in Christ we experience the
fullness of God, “so that he might come to have first
place in everything.” In the midst of uncontrollable
shopping frenzy we have everything we need in Jesus
Christ. We are content with what we have. Jesus
promises us abundant life here and now, as well as in
the hereafter.
And finally, Jesus Christ through his life,
death and new life was able to reconcile all people to
God. The barrier between God and all the people has
been torn down thanks to Jesus. To the world the cross
is the symbol of death, but for the believer the cross
is transformed into a sign of new life in Christ. The
victory has already been won. Paul wrote about “making
peace through the blood of his cross.”
Joan admits that she only wanted to have her
children baptized when she began attending church. “I
didn’t want to be changed,” she states, “I wasn’t
looking for community.” The church required parents to
attend a class prior their having their children
baptized. Joan found the class both wonderful and
frustrating. It was “wonderful, because it taught me
about the power of continuing invitation in the
Christian life,” she says, but it was also frustrating
because all she wanted was, in her words, “to get to the
end and get out.”
As the months unfolded, Joan drew closer to
Jesus Christ. One meaningful service that stands out
was when persons were marked with crosses of holy oil.
“I was marked with the sign of the cross on my hands,
eyes, ears, forehead, heart and feet.” This experience
changed her life—she was becoming a disciple of Jesus
Christ. (1)
In a few minutes you will be invited to the
Lord’s Table. Holy Communion serves to strengthen our
faith, our walk with Jesus. I’ve said more than once
that we strive to be more and more like Jesus in our
thoughts and actions. Today, on Christ the King Sunday,
the climax of the Christian year, may we open our selves
to the power of Jesus Christ, allowing him to transform
us, to mold us into the people he desires and intends us
to become, so that Christ can send us out into the world
as his disciples.
1. Christianity for the Rest of Us, Diana Butler
Bass, Harper San Francisco, 2006
Amen.
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