Sermon
November 21, 2021
Last Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 29
Year B
“Christ the King Sunday”
First Reading: 2 Samuel 23:1-7
Psalm 132:1-13, [14-19]
Second Reading: Revelation 1:4b-8
Gospel: John 18:33-37
Today is our:
Feast of “Christ the King”
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever. Amen (BCP 236)
On this last Sunday of our liturgical calendar year, we give a special recognition to the dominion Christ our Lord has over all aspects of our lives. It’s perfect to lead us into our Advent season of Hope-Peace-Joy-Love….
Gospel:
In our gospel lesson today, we read how Jesus is summoned by Pilate…he questions him again…
“Jesus” are you King of the Jews? Jesus, puts him on the spot, are you saying that or is it because others told you?
Pilate…tells Jesus, that your own nation and chief priests have handed you over to me.
Pilate is nothing more than a governor, he holds authority in the headquarters, he is not Jewish, and really, he doesn’t want the responsibility of a trial…Jesus is Jewish and let his own judge him.
I feel they were cowards; they all know there is something special about this man.
Pilate asks Jesus “What have you done”? Jesus reply’s, “My kingdom is not from this world…because if it was my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.
“Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “you say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.
“Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
Jesus came into this world to change the way people had been for years. Hope of a new life a new beginning. He came to the earth: to save his people from their sins by his life, death, and resurrection. His great purpose was to restore sinners to their God so that they may have eternal life forever with him.
Kings put people into slavery, Jesus freed people.
Kings crucified people; Jesus saved people.
Kings ruled over people with fear and disgrace. Jesus loved people; Jesus gave people not fear, but hope.
Jesus brought Joy into the world. Every time He healed a person, cast out a demon, or forgave a sin, joy was the immediate result. Those who followed Jesus had peace, finely.
All those who listen to his voice he brought Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace. Instead of separating people, he brought them together.
Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew or Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love
We will be in the advent season next Sunday.
Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year; the season begins on the fourth Sunday before Christmas and ends on the day before Christmas.
It may be a time for a new beginning for us as Christians; it lets us focus on the promise that God made to his people and how that promise was fulfilled in Jesus.
Change is among us in this time of Advent expectation.
Many of us may have already experienced the kinds of change that faith can bring, but that doesn’t mean the change is over, we will continue to grow.
Advent is also that unchangeable season when the same concepts, the same words rise over and over again, year after year, to challenge our hearts and minds.
As we wait in expectation and preparation for the coming of the Lord.
Let’s remember what the apostle Paul said to the Ephesians…. 1:15-23
I pray that God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.
Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath