Revealed, Reign of Christ, Nov. 20, 2016

Christ the King/Reign of Christ (Year C)

 Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016

Theme:  Revealed

Reflection: The kingdom of God (or of heaven, in Matthew) is not simply about supplanting an earthly ruler with a heavenly one. In heralding the coming kingdom of God, Jesus was not advocating regime change. Rather, Jesus was announcing the advent of an entirely different way of being in relationship with each other and with God. It's not the ruler that changes, but the realm in which we live.

David Lose, president, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia

What a week it’s been. I think that no matter what happened on Election Day, my heart would have been heavy, my mind so concerned for the future. So I’m going to surround my uncertainties with the love of God and keep being God’s child in this world. It’s what we were made to do. It’s the only thing we CAN do.

That, I think, is the message of this final day of the church year. Christ the King Sunday, or the name that is currently in use – The Reign of Christ.  It’s not the end of the church year as a nod to the end of time, something for us to hope for in the afterlife.

This is the last page of the book, the end of the story that doesn’t reveal itself until the Gospel of Jesus the Christ opens our hearts and minds. It’s that Aha! moment when it happens. The kingdom of God – it already has come and continues to come…

•          Whenever we see every person on this planet as a brother or sister

•          Whenever we choose to give life to someone who is lost or forsaken

•          Whenever we reach out with forgiveness to mend human brokenness

•          Whenever we set aside our creeds and divisions and act on our faith in this world

Such a different king and different kingdom we read about in today’s texts. We have such limited experience with royalty in our world that these words about monarchs, thrones and kingdoms don’t resonate with us.  At the basic level, for a power to be sovereign over us, we must accede power. We need to surrender our control to be subject to a king. This is the process of discipleship.

But don’t miss the point. Letting go of our control doesn’t mean having a heaven-centered faith that says “I’m in. I’m good. I’m just waiting for the streets of gold and my mansion.”

I don’t know what is to come after this life. I believe that when Jesus said he was going to prepare a place, that he was talking about a future beyond this life. But I refuse to focus on that, when there is so much needed to do to reveal the kingdom of God here. While I still have life and breath, I am going to live well, love hard, and act with as much mercy as I can – letting Christ reign in and through me.

Faith App:  If we say Jesus the Christ is the Lord of our lives, then we need to live the reign of Christ in and through our lives. We were not set free to wait for salvation someday – we were given new life to reveal the kingdom everyday.

HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS

Jesus Shall Reign, ELW 434

Christ Is the King, ELW 662

Jesus, Remember Me, ELW 616

The King Shall Come, ELW 260

All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name, ELW 634

At the Name of Jesus, ELW 416

O Christ the Same, ELW 760

Joy to the World, ELW 267 (yes, it fits! What a joyous reminder of the beginning and end of the year!)

Now We Join in Celebration, ELW 462

Bread of Life from Heaven, ELW 474

A New Hallelujah, Michael W Smith https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBxOkruKpqI

Sovereign Over Us, Michael W. Smith

You are wisdom unimagined
Who could understand your ways
Reigning high above the heavens
Reaching down in endless grace
You're the lifter of the lowly
Compassionate and kind
You surround and you uphold me
And your promises are my delight

Your plans are still to prosper
You have not forgotten us
You're with us in the fire and the flood
You're faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us

Lord, Reign in Me, Brenton Brown

He is Exalted, Shane & Shane

How Great Is Our God, Chris Tomlin (world version)

Forever Reign, one sonic society/Hillsong United

He Reigns, Newsboys

With Every Act of Love, Jason Gray

LESSONS

Jeremiah 23:1-6 God will raise a righteous Branch who will reign as king and execute justice

Psalm 46 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Colossians 1:11-20 God has rescued and set us free in the kingdom of Jesus the Christ

Luke 23:33-43 “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Summary of the Lessons:  For a year, we live the mystery of Jesus the Christ among us: living, teaching, dying, rising and growing within us. On this day, the texts reveal Christ’s kingdom, hidden among us all along.

OPENING LITANY based on Psalm 46

L:  God is the secure stronghold of our lives;

C:  The only certainty when everything falls.

L:  When all we trust begins to shake apart –

C:  We can look to God to find our center again.

L:  Like a river, joy flows through the kingdom realm,

C:  Where God makes a home, all fear is removed,

L:  Nations crumble, and the earth’s leaders deposed,

C:  But one word from God, and peace is restored.

L:  How marvelous are the places God is sovereign,

C:  Mercy and understanding replace the fury of war,

L:  Be still and listen to God’s voice echoing everywhere,

C:  Be God’s light and love to reveal the kingdom now.

CONFESSION 

L:  Our hope is in you, Lord, all day, every day,

C:  When the earth changes and mountains tremble,

L:  When leaders change and global markets shudder,

C:  Help us know, Lord, that you are our only refuge.

L:  Our help is in you, Lord, morning and night,

C:  When peace and justice still seem so far away,

L:  When weapons of war and voices of anger prevail,

C:  Guide us with wisdom, Lord, that we may learn your ways.

L:  Our trust is in you, Lord, from now to the end of time,

C:  When the darkness swells and our fears multiply,

L:  When we lose sight that you remain in control,

C:  Give us courage, Lord, so that we become your kingdom.

 (Silent reflection)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

C:  Most Merciful God … in your darkest hour, you prayed for us, offered forgiveness to people who condemned you. Fill us with reconciliation, Lord, so that the people of your world will learn to live together in peace, caring for one another and the planet on which we all live, so together we can grow to understand what it means to live out the reign of Christ. 

Hear this Good News:  Jesus, the one who laid down his life, has rescued us from the power of darkness, and allows us to be set free from sin. Live into that freedom, releasing others from hatred, guilt, longing, separation and all other forces that stop the flow of Christ’s love throughout this world.

In the name of …

Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L:  We pray together, 

C:  Sovereign God … accept our invitation today to take control of our lives, now and every moment ahead. To guide our way when life is going well, and to rescue us when we are in trouble. Help us to trust you, Lord in all circumstances, and make good use of us in bringing forth your kingdom.  Amen. 

COMMUNION BLESSING

L:  We pray together,

C:  We give thanks, most gracious God, for the foretaste of your kingdom in this meal, as we gather as the body of Christ, here and everywhere in your world. Keep this vision in front of us as you send us out to be love in action, the fullness of God dwelling in and moving through each of us.  Amen. 

SENDING

L:  Spread kindness to everyone you meet,

C:  Act with compassion every chance you get,

L:  Christ’s kingdom isn’t a vision for someday,

C:  But a way of living as God’s people today.

L:  Go now, kingdom-bearers, to love and to serve the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God! 

First Reading Jeremiah 23:1-6 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: In the time of Jeremiah, king after king had acted in bad faith to the people, allowing neighboring kingdoms to abuse and send God’s people into exile. Shepherd was a powerful metaphor for leaders of these ancient people, who should have cared for their people.

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the LORD. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the LORD.

The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The LORD is our righteousness.” 

Second Reading  Colossians 1:11-20 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: Paul wrote letters to several faith families while in jail in Rome. He had never met the Christians of Colossae, but he understood other leaders were trying to turn them from their singular trust in Jesus to a faith that included elements of paganism and Judaism.

May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers—all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

Gospel  Luke 23:33-43 (NRSV)

Setting the Scene: We move about the Gospel of Luke this year, finishing the year with Jesus on the cross. The truth of King Jesus was there on the lips of those who crucified him, even as they mocked him.

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”