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2024 Vestry
The Rev. Cathy Clark, Parish Rector
Bob Staton, Sr. Warden
Johnny Edwards, Jr. Warden
Art Bradley, Budd Kass, JacE Macy, Pat McArdle, Charlene McCreight, Linda O'Hara,

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Reflection for the Last Sunday After Pentecost: The Feast of Christ the King - The Rev. Cathy CLark

Reflection for the Last Sunday After Pentecost: The Feast of Christ the King - The Rev. Cathy CLark

2 Samuel 23:1-7
Psalm 132:1-13, (14-19)
Revelation 1:4b-8
John 18:33-37

This Sunday is the Last Sunday After Pentecost: The Feast of Christ the King. This is the Sunday that concludes the liturgical year, and the theme, the "Reign of Christ," anticipates God's concluding of all things, whereby righteousness reigns over all, justice is rendered, everything is put right, and all things are accomplished.
In the first reading, from 2nd Samuel, we hear David's last words (at least the version Samuel records, since there are other versions of David's last words). An extraordinary stature is claimed for David in these verses. We are reminded of the "everlasting covenant" made with David. And David is described as one who rules his people with justice, "like the sun rising on a cloudless morning, gleaming from the rain on the grassy land." This is the stuff of legend about King David, the idealized leader of an idealized time.
The psalm, too, speaks of King David, and remembers the promise of a king on the throne of David forever, if David's children keep the covenant.
Among the titles applied to Jesus in Revelation, our second reading, "ruler of the kings of the earth" stakes a political claim over against the claim of Caesar to be supreme over all throughout the Roman Empire. Allegiance to God rather than to Caesar, under a rule of Christ is what is required, according to the writer. The clear implication is that allegiance to God rather than Caesar creates a conflict that cannot be avoided or compromised. To live under the rule of Christ puts one at odds with the rulers of this world. A judgment as challenging in our world today as in the world of the Roman Empire of the first century.
The gospel reading from John is the scene of Jesus' trial before Pilate, a reading usually associated with Good Friday. We only read a small portion of the scene, an exchange between Pilate and Jesus concerning whether Jesus is the King of the Jews. It's clear Pilate would rather not be having this conversation, would rather be off the hook on this one. He's been handed this one by the Jewish chief priests, who themselves want to be rid of Jesus because he is a threat to them. They hand Jesus over to Pilate, the representative of Roman authority in their land, implying that Jesus is a threat to him and to Rome. Jesus' real claim, however, is against the religious leaders. But there were those who, in John's gospel, had encountered Jesus, and who were impressed enough by him that they would have made him their king in their desire for another king like the legendary King David, someone who would stand up to the authority of Rome. But that was not Jesus' claim. In fact, that was a claim he denied. He would not be a king like David. But he would claim the authority of a kingdom or reign of the God who, for Jesus, has claim over all life and over all earthly authorities and rulers.
Jesus claims one purpose and only one: to testify to the truth. Moreover, says Jesus, those who belong to the truth listen to his voice. There's a claim for allegiance in that. And it cuts it one way or the other. There's no in between in this, no gray, no fudging. Pilate tries to punt by asking, "What is truth?" But his avoidance can't work. Nor can any other attempt at avoidance. There's no escaping the question Jesus poses about where Pilate or we stand. We know the truth. The truth about our lives and to whom we rightfully belong. Often, however, we'd just like to avoid the implications for our lives. Like Pilate.
The Feast of Christ the King reminds us, once again, with whom our ultimate loyalty properly rests. To acknowledge that is also to claim our own lives and acknowledge our God-given worth, a value nothing else can bestow or convey: not wealth, not power, no authority or privilege of any earthly kind. Because all belongs, finally, to God, the One who gives every good gift. A good reminder as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday.
Yours in Christ,
Cathy+

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