Sermon for the Feast of Christ the King – 20th November 2022:JEREMIAH 23:1-6,LUKE 23: 33-43

Deacon Chris Saccali – St Paul’s Athens

We have been hearing the word King a lot after the accession of King Charles 111this year after the death of Queen Elizabeth 11 and we have had to get used to different words in the National Anthem, new coins minted and many other changes. Today we celebrate the last Sunday before a new lectionary year before the First Sunday in Advent next week. Today is known as Christ the King a very different kind of king from a worldly king.

Our gospel passage from Luke today reflects this making it very clear that Christ on the cross, great priest bestowing forgiveness and taking on himself the role of temple in sacrificing his body, is also Christ the King. Truly priest and truly King bringing in God’s Kingdom. We are in Kingdom season after all before we enter Advent season.

The reality of Jesus’ Kingship is that it is built not on gain but on giving. Not on self preservation but on sacrifice. Not on glory through human triumph but glory through suffering and death. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German pastor who was executed by the Nazis  in 1945 wrote: ‘ A  king who dies on the cross must be the king of a rather strange kingdom. Only those who understand the profound paradox of the  cross can also understand the whole meaning of Jesus assertion my Kingdom is not of this world.’

One lone voice stands out from our gospel passage today belonging to the second thief whose name or what crime he had committed are not stated. His plea is recorded and remembered though, ‘Remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And we are going to hear that Taize chant at the end of the sermon . Do  join in .

What kind of kingdom was the man expecting? The answer comes straight back from Jesus, ‘Today you will be with me in Paradise- the word used is the old Persian word for Eden. This image reflects God’s immediate and abundant love for us. It is reassuring and shows how true repentance counts. Also, it promises that  Jesus will be with us.

It is a great privilege to take time on this last Sunday in the church year and great feast to remember Christ the King. It is also safeguarding Sunday when we remember that safety and good practice are the bedrock of our church community and mutual caring for each other. In a few short weeks we celebrate again the birth of a baby who is also a king who was visited as such by three wise men or earthly kings. May we all work together to bring in the Kingdom.

 

Let us pray: Dear God

Help us to be a church that loves, welcomes, protects, listens, learns, serves, repents, restores, transforms, values, cares, believes.

God justice and of compassion, hear our prayer. Help us, heal us, guide us, we pray in Jesus’ name AMEN