Musical Prelude and Service.

Colossians 1:11-20 & Luke 1:68-79
Today is the last Sunday of the Christian year. We start over next week with the first Sunday of
Advent as we anticipate the birth of Jesus and the coming of God with us.
This morning we reflect on where our journey has led us, as we follow Jesus through his birth,
his ministry and teaching, his arrest, trial, execution and his resurrection. We reflect on the way
God’s spirit then moved in and through Christ’s followers to build and grow the church, the Body of
Christ and the anticipation of a new earth grounded in God’s love, mercy and peace.
Now clearly that new Earth is yet to be fulfilled. We are left with the conclusion that the work is not
yet done, but through our reflection and our worship we consistently recommit to working with God
to see the fulfilment of those visions. Here is where we approach one of the dilemmas of our
reflections based on the history attached to this Sunday liturgically.
I and many others name this day, Reign of Christ Sunday. In many other places, in other churches it
is named Christ the King Sunday. For many the differences seem a touch minor – a small distinction.
Perhaps.
The Feast of Christ the King was first proclaimed in the early 1920s by Pope Pious XI. This followed
the horror of World War I and the subsequent political disruption of numerous rebellions, and the
overthrowing of several monarchies, such as in Russia and Germany. The upending of traditional
forms of rule troubled Pope Pious significantly. One of his hopes was to encourage faithful Christians
to see God and God’s love and justice through these Kings. That Christ appears to us through this
form of rule. It’s not a theology I can agree to.
Furthermore, in recent years we have seen a rise in Christian Nationalism. And they have grabbed on
to the idea of Christ the King. And that Christ sets people to rule over us in his name. As much as I
would like to ignore the existence of Christian Nationalism, it is not something I can really do. I view
this movement and its most recent iteration as a danger; a danger to vulnerable populations and to
other devout Christians such as ourselves.
It is helpful to be clear about what I mean by Chrisitan Nationalism. I have heard and read some
people defend the term, arguing that there is nothing wrong with being Christian and also be proud
of my country. No, there isn’t, but that is not what I am talking about.
Christian Nationalism – or as some have often called it White Christian Nationalism, as there is a
racist element to a great deal of this, is something else entirely that blends your faith in God, in fact
your vision and understanding of God into your vision and desires for your country. And in doing so,
narrows your vision of both to very much appear like the image in the mirror you hold in your hand.
When you look to define Chrisitan Nationalism, you eventually come to a few main points. One; the
belief that your nation was explicitly founded on Christianity, and it should remain that way.
Two; That country should be governed by a strict set of selected Christian values.
Three; Anything that diverges from this narrow set of values is a sign of the work of evil in the world.
Naming and accepting what values are prioritized is the work of a small and not terribly diverse group
of people. What often accompanies these core beliefs is an understanding that the nation has a
special role to play in God’s plan, and if you disagree you are most definitely against that plan.
Blended into this is a sense of grievance against those who oppose your vision, and that Jesus will
come to save you. In this vision, Jesus is seen as a mighty warrior coming to bring vengeance on our
enemies. As one can imagine I have a real problem with this theology.
Christ is the King who is coming to avenge his mistreated followers and rule with an iron will.
Many of my colleagues have made the choice to dismiss or not acknowledge Reign of Christ Sunday;
noting it is the creation of a 20th Century pope for, at best, dubious reasons. I confess I have
debated that myself, but I think it is still important to reflect on what we mean or what we imagine
when we discuss or even simply hear the terms Christ the King or the Reign of Christ. Because those
terms are absolutely part of the general conversation in churches and in the world in general.
What do we mean or what do we hope for when we think of Christ as King or that we anticipate the
Reign of Christ? To look to Jesus the Christ as King is a little bit problematic for me. Early in scripture,
God – through Samuel, discourages the Israelites from establishing a King. They don’t need one, and
that direction is never going to end well. And while Jesus is eventually crucified for proclaiming
himself King of the Jews, he also makes clear that any kingdom he claims is not of this world.
So what is the rule we seek; that we desire from Christ; from God? Do we yearn for a King?
A despot? A benevolent dictator?
Do we look to those in authority and hope to see God in their image?
I don’t believe that God desires for us to be ruled by other humans. This is not a call to anarchy on
my part. There is a difference between rulers and a government set to manage our country’s affairs.
God, I believe, desires for us to be ruled by values of love; justice; peace; mercy and the hope for a
better life for all of creation.
In Colossians, the author who may or may not be Paul, quotes an early Christian hymn describing
Jesus and how the Christ relates to the world. Jesus is certainly leading a resistance to violence and
brutality of the empire, but is also the very the wisdom that created and holds together the cosmos.
Christ is the binding agent that holds us all together and leads and guides us through self-sacrifice
and service. The reign of Christ in this vision of the holy is far removed from an empire of violence
and fear focused on self aggrandizement and retribution.
In Luke we hear the Priest Zechariah offering a song of gratitude and hope as he speaks for the first
time in months upon holding his newborn son John. They are words that echo the song of Mary,
voiced earlier in this gospel. As we hear in most prophecies, there is an acknowledgment of the
darkness that grips so much of the world, but he also names the hope that he sees in his son and the
infant Jesus that is soon to follow. That they will point us in a new direction, a new way of living. Not
that of empires. John points us to Jesus, who proclaims a world governed by peace and love.
Jesus preaches a liberation from the brutality of an empire that rules through fear of violence, of
incarceration and of death. An empire that keeps us cowed by encouraging us to fear and resent our
neighbour instead of loving them.
Who do you see when you think of Jesus? The revelation of a loving and living God, who walks with
us – desiring to meet us at our most vulnerable?
To feed us when we are hungry and who is committed to serve us?
Or an avenging force coming to rule over us and bring retribution against our enemies?
Maybe that seems a touch binary. Maybe there is nuance to be found in this question. But we need
to ask the question. Who is the Jesus we seek? And what does it mean to live in the reign of Christ?
I know what I prefer. I know what I want to promote. Love the Lord your God with all your heart.
With all your mind, with all your soul. And love your neighbour as you love yourself.
Love kindness, seek justice and walk humbly with your God.
As we celebrate the continued presence of Jesus the Christ in our lives, may those values; those,
rules, hold primacy in our lives and in our world. Amen
Rev. Warner Bloomfield

Music provided with permission through licensing with CCLI License number
2701258 and One License # A-731789