Christ The King Sunday

by Gene Roop

By mid-November, we focus our energy on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Meanwhile, virtually unnoticed, Christ the King Sunday comes and goes. This year, on November 23, the liturgical calendar lists Christ the King Sunday. In the U.S., November 23 is the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

I doubt that we will skip Thanksgiving Sunday in favor of Christ the King. However, Christ the King faces more than one obstacle. We don’t fully understand how to handle Jesus's Kingship.

One autumn weekend several years ago, I spent Saturday at a Church of the Brethren District Conference. The conference began with a worship service. The musical instruments and choir performed music celebrating Christ the King. The sermon that followed focused on Christ the Servant. Neither the musicians nor the speaker discussed how these two portraits of Christ might relate to one another.

Our DNA

Historically and traditionally, Brethren are more comfortable with a portrait of Christ the Servant. A few Brethren congregations have chosen Christ the Servant as their name. I’m not aware of any Christ the King Brethren congregation. I suspect, at least in part, that this is due to the cultural associations with the word “king.” The Revolutionary War was fought to overthrow the rule of a king. A king most often rules by force and maintains his position through coercion. We acknowledge there have been “good” kings and “bad” kings.   But we don’t want any king.  

Another factor influences this preference. Brethren have looked for ways to resolve disputes without resorting to force or violence, whether physical or psychological. Victories gained through force leave the victim angry, which can generate hatred passed down through generations. Christ teaches us to serve rather than subdue—to “love” rather than “loathe” our enemies (Mt. 5:44).

The Evangelists Matthew and John

In an image of “Son of Man” coming, Matthew (25:31ff.) employs royal language and links kingship with service: “When you have [served] one of the least of my children, you have done it to me”.  To speak of Christ the king and Christ the servant together reminds us that for Jesus, divine power does not destroy. It empowers acts of service, such as the “King Jesus” washing of the guest's feet (John 13:3ff).

In the “Sermon on the Mount,” Jesus blesses those we often see as not very important or realistic: the hopeless (pure in spirit), those who mourn, the meek (beaten down), those striving to build a compassionate community (righteousness), the compassionate (merciful), those dedicated to making life better (pure in heart), and those committed to uniting people (peacemakers) (Mt. 5:3-9).

Can we celebrate Christ the King on the Sunday before Thanksgiving? I think it could be a wonderful time. It reminds us of the “king” who blesses the little babies, prepares enough food to feed “thousands”, and serves everyone who comes— from the youngest to the oldest, the weakest to the strongest, the custodian to the president.  

Amazing God,

Who comes as our king,

And lives as our servant,

Remind us,

Whatever our status or age,

As we are able,

To respond to those who need help,

As you have responded to us,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen