Christ The King 2024 St Andrew’s Milngavie
Today we celebrated Christ the King accompanied by Alison.
Advent 2024 – There will once again be a chance to take part in the online Ignatius Spirituality Centre Advent Course which runs throughout the season available by accessing the ISC website.
We are also invited to join All Saints for their Advent course which starts on Tuesday 26th November at 2pm in their hall. The book we are studying is “Do not be afraid” The joy of waiting in a time of fear by Rachel Mann.
This Week
Tuesday 10am – Prayer Group in church
2pm – Advent Course, All Saints in their hall
Wednesday 2.30pm –Book Group, mine.
Thursday 10am – Said Holy Communion for St Andrew’s Day, Patronal Festival, followed by coffee in Friendship House
Advent Sunday 10am – Sung Eucharist St Andrew’s
From 1.30pm – Christmas Tree festival at St Paul’s
5pm – Advent Carol Service at All Saints, everyone welcome.
Readings for next Sunday – Advent Sunday – Jeremiah 33:14-16 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 Luke 21:25-36
Today’s readings – Daniel 7:9-10,13-14, Revelations 1:4-8, John 18:33-37,
Today is the last Sunday of the Christian year, a day traditionally referred to as the feast of Christ the King. A day when we remember the kingship of Christ, a tradition that goes back to 1925 when the feast day was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX.
The pope felt that in an increasingly unsettled world where political extremes were being played out in Europe it was time to remind Christian people everywhere that our allegiance is to Christ and not to any of these worldly rulers.
A sentiment that perhaps resonates today. Thus, we have Christ the King’ Sunday.
But it is interesting to think how we have portrayed Christ as a King over the years. Music and art have illustrated him in many graphic, wonderful and imaginative ways. Next Sunday is Advent Sunday and we will be singing one of my favourite hymns “Lo he comes with clouds descending”!
Taken from the text of today’s reading from the book of Revelation we sing,
“Every eye shall now behold him,
robed in dreadful majesty,
we who set at naught and sold him,
pierced and nailed him to the tree,
deeply wailing, shall the true messiah see.
The Revelation text is a vision of the time when Christ would return to earth, all the nations of the earth, kings and princes would worship him, all worldly powers would be subject to him. Wesley embellishes it and says that when Jesus comes again, his ransomed worshippers would endlessly be worshipping his crucifixion scars, the whole world would be adoring him on his eternal throne.
Throughout Scripture there are a variety of ways and images which have been used to describe Jesus. We have described Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Son of Man, the Son of David, the Son of God, the Bridegroom, the Door, the Vine, the Lamb of God, the Mediator, the Great High Priest, the Lord, the Resurrection and the Life, the Alpha and the Omega, the Word.
Many descriptive titles, but perhaps the most fitting of all is found in the reading today from the letter to the Philippians where we are told “Christ emptied himself, taking the form of a slave” Philippians 5:7
Jesus the servant of all, The servant King, humble, yet hugely powerful in his humility and servant role.
“The King of love my shepherd is.”
Jesus was a king who was different from the moment he was born. He never did conform to the pictures usually associated with kingship, with earthly glory and power. He wasn’t born in a royal palace, or even into a royal family, but was born to parents who were of modest circumstances.
He was also regarded as dangerously odd by the religious authorities. Here was someone that took the well fare of everyone seriously, particularly of children and widows. His preaching constantly affirmed the poor and outcasts and he even washed his disciple’s feet. He taught of love and forgiveness – turning the other cheek. The powers that be, both Jews and Romans, were utterly confused. They had heard Jesus referred to as a king, and so naturally were anxious that he might attempt to usurp their own authority. We hear this in the gospel today in the dialogue between Jesus and Pontius Pilate at Jesus’ trial. Pilate asked Jesus outright, “Are you the king of the Jews?” What have you done?
“My kingdom is not of this world”
Next week we will begin again to tell the story of the coming of Jesus into the world as a baby and we will again start looking forward to Jesus returning as Christ the King.
As we journey through the year hearing again the stories of Jesus’ birth, his ministry and teaching, his death and resurrection, we too will be travelling our own journeys. We will go through the wilderness times of doubt and anxiety, we may enter the gethsemane of anguish and despair, we will have great experiences of excitement and good news. And we will plod along through the everyday life of ordinary times.
As we travel Christ will be alongside us giving meaning and purpose to our lives. His presence will make all the difference when we feel most alone and isolated.
Today we celebrate the feast day of Christ the King.
A king who came to earth with nothing, born in a stable among animals.
A king who died on a cross and rose again.
A king who longs to reign in our hearts and bless us with his presence and drew us into his eternal kingdom.