The Reign of Christ

Christ the King Sunday

In 1925, a feast of observance was added to the liturgical Christian calendar: the Reign of Christ. “Feasts” are in the calendar as annual observances of some particular element of the Christian story. Reign of Christ Sunday does not need much explanation - it emphasizes Christ’s lordship, kingship, and authority. Also known as Christ the King Sunday, it ends the liturgical year (next Sunday we begin again - the first Sunday of Advent).

At the time in the 1920s, Pope Pius XI initiated Christ the King Sunday as a response to secularism and anti-religious sentiments and movements, particularly the rise of nationalism, fascism, and communism.

Ever heard of those?

There are all sorts of ways to diminish Christ’s rule in our lives. Certainly the larger, well-known political movements do this naturally and often, intentionally. But less obvious are the ways that politics creep into our individual lives. It’s as if a loaf of bread - good for us - begins to look a bit like a stone. And then a whole bunch of all the other stones begin to look like loaves of bread.

We make assumptions about what is like Christ when it actually is not.

This is why daily seeking Christ is so important and why this daily devotional - reading the actual gospels - was first begun. I am increasingly convinced that the role Christ has for us in the world is not to Christian-ify everything, but to stand amidst it all as the people of God, the Church, the body of Christ on earth. The Church is the alternative politic, the representation of the kingdom of Christ above all things, powers, and principalities. When the systems of this world end up looking like Jesus, great! Anyone and anything is welcome aboard.

But just because someone slaps the word “Christian” on something does not make it like Jesus.

We’ll pick back up in finishing up the gospel of Matthew in the next couple of days, but for today, here is a single verse. You likely know it well. But consider the kingship of Christ as you take it in today.

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,
and all these things shall be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

(from The Book of Common Prayer)