Christ the King Sunday 2022

 

Poem/Reflection for the Feast of Christ the King    St. Thomas Church, Ahoskie, NC

Thomas E Wilson, Guest Presider                November, 20, 2022

Jeremiah 23:1-6      Canticle 16          Colossians 1:11-20         Luke 23:33-43

 Christ The King Sunday 2022

There is a line that Frank Sinatra sang in the standard, “New York, New York “ 

“I wanna wake up in a city that doesn't sleep

And find I'm king of the hill, top of the heap”

What a desire to be the King above all the rules! I remember a time, in the spring semester of 1965, almost seven years more than half a century ago, when  I was trying so hard to be Sinatra. There is a line “You can always tell a Sophomore, but you can’t tell him much!” I was a second semester freshman and I was sure I knew everything that needed to be known. I had turned 18 over the Christmas Break and returned to have my first legal beer and wine in North Carolina. Some friends and I went out to eat at a restaurant. At the next table there were these pretty girls and I decided that I would demonstrate how cool I was. I started slowly swirling my glass of wine, to show while I was only 18, I had more sophistication than sense. I was so cool. Until, my friend, Ted Simpson, leaned over and  whispered, “Tom, you are spilling your wine.” Sure enough my white long sleeved shirt’s cuffs were being loaded with red wine. My other two friends laughed. Over half a century later, I still shudder at the fear that the beautiful girls might have rolled their eyes. I would not be the last time I tried, and failed, to be cool like the King.

The Feast of Christ the king is less than a century old. It began under the rule of Pope Pius XI who was elected in 1922. The world he had grown up in had changed.  When he was growing up and in his Priestly career, wherever he looked there were Kingdoms. Except, the 20th Century had changed the social and political alliances. World War I had swept away the Hollenhauser German Empire, dismantled the Habsburg Austro-Hungarian Empire, swept away the the Romanov Czars of the  Russian Empire, dismantled the Ottoman Empire giving most of their territory to British, French and Saudi zones of interest, with a Republic of Turkey that continued the genocide of Armenians.  The war saw the Chinese Quig dynasty fall apart with feuding warlords and the Empire of Japan picking over the carcass. The War played havoc with the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland with the victors losing a generation on the slaughter yards of battle and southern Part of Ireland in the Irish rebellion to become a Republic.

Pius XI  saw the rulers who had replaced the old Kings in Spain, Portugal, Russia,  Italy and later Germany and saw authoritative rulers who only worshiped power. Pius looked at the Victors of the War and saw countries  becoming more and more secular, more and more  focused on creating individual wealth and the  neglect of the care of the poor. 

Pius feared the rot in the religious pews and called for a remembrance that our faith was centered on following the dictates and example of the Christ; to remember that while the earthly Kings were passing away, Christ was the King to follow. With this in mind Pius called for a special festival of renewal of Christ the King to be held in the last week  of October. Pius also had a less admirable motive ,because in many parts of Germany the last week of October also contained a state Holiday for the Celebration of the Protestant Reformation when many shops were closed so the Christ the King would provide competition.. Much later, in a spirit of ecumenism the Feast of Christ the King was changed to the last Sunday before the First week of Advent., which is when we celebrate today.

Jesus was given the Title of King, not by his followers but by his enemies as a mockingly cruel jest, putting a sign, “King of the Jews” and then mocking him for his lack of power. Earthly Kings and Queens don’t put up much with mockery because they always want to maintain their “Dignity”. Jesus had this habit of getting on his knees and washing feet. On the Cross, Jesus forgives and invites a convicted thief and robber  to join him in Paradise.

Kings and Queens return with interest any slight given to them, holding on to any grudges. Jesus forgives easily. Kings and Queens in their own mind, separate themselves from the common people. Jesus  did not sit on any thrones of privilege but emptied himself out at every opportunity, sitting and eating with broken sinners. It is one of those broken sinners, who on an adjoining cross, see Jesus, the Giver of Mercy, as the King of Kings. He cries, like all of us broken sinners: “Jesus remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

Kings and Queens like to control people, places and things.  Jesus redeems and sets free. Kings and Queens like to talk down to people. Jesus walks with us. Kings and Queens can be royally amused. Jesus laughs out loud. Kings and Queens make loud proclamations. The Christ whispers into our hearts to the point of tears. Kings, like Sinatra tells us, want to be on top of the heap. The Christ kneels down and washes feet.

When I became a Rector of a church, I was faced with a need for balance. One one hand I was a Rector which comes from the Latin of being a ruler. On the other hand I was a Pastor, to minister, where my life was to be a trustworthy outward and visible sign of the presence of Christ ‘s love to the community in which I served. In the churches I served as Rector: there were times I was able to keep the balance and more than a few times when I needed Christ’s, and my parishioners’, forgiveness for letting my Parishes down. The search committees of the two St. Thomas will have a hard time keeping that balance in their search to enter into a Covenant with her or him.

I want to add a note on the nature of a Covenant. The Bulletin today offers a Prayer of Thanksgiving on the Marriage Covenant Anniversary of Hugh and Dawn Davis.  British Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, who died this month 2 years ago, offered his view of a covenant:

A covenant is like a marriage. It is a mutual pledge of loyalty and trust between two or more persons, each respecting the dignity and integrity of the other, to work together to achieve together what neither can achieve alone. And there is one thing even God cannot achieve alone, which is to live within the human heart. That needs us.

Pius XI wanted a return to when someone seems to be in charge, he longed for a King in the Christ. I understand his fears of having things seem to fall apart. There is something that Jesus keeps saying in scripture, over and over again. The phrases, “Fear not” or “Be not afraid”, occur 103 times in the King James Version of the Bible. He says to his disciples and us: “Do not be afraid.” He says” I am with you even to the end of the age.”

Christ The King Sunday 2022

The King sign was a cruel joke of shame,

Mocking pretentious of man and nation,

For trying to raise up above their station;

Letting all know only Romans had a name.

However, centuries pass longing for a ruler

Of my passions, pretentious and appetites,

While claiming them as sovereign “rights”,

In sad quest to claim the title “Mister Cooler”.

My goal was Out Sinatraing Sinatra in cool;

Melodying my own songs, in my own way,

Posing as if  I was master of my fate, I’d say:

“I’m the only one who over me can ever rule!”

But, finding I needed greater than myself power,

Daily realizing I needed the King in every hour.