Gracious: A Different Kind of King

 In 1925 the world was in a mess.

Post-WWI diplomacy was awkward. Imperialism was increasingly viewed negatively. On the rise were independence movements, territorial ambitions, and nationalism. Empires were dismantled, democratic regimes collapsed, and there was a rise of communism and fascism in Europe. Besides the politics, the world experienced mass petroleum-based energy production, advancement in military technology, disarmament projects, and unprecedented industrial growth.

 

In the fall of 1925, praying for this world, Pope Pius XI instituted the “Feast of Christ the King.”

The Feast Day was to remind and encourage the church that Christ was a different kind of king.

The Papal motto of Pius XI was: “The peace of Christ in the Reign of Christ”

 

In 2024 the world is in a mess.

 

This sermon was written after returning home from the Remembrance Day ceremony at Artillery Park in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The service was accompanied by gale force winds and steady rain. The lament from a lone piper seeped into hearts, as the 21-canon salute boomed from Citadel hill. Before leaving for the ceremony, the news reported Israeli aggression on a refugee camp in central Gaza. And as all this swirled in the November skies, tears blurred eyes and rolled down cheeks.

 

In the silence, the pause to remember was deafening. Peace has not come. War has not ended. Over the 90 years of holding the loss of war in a moment of silence, the world remains in a mess. Regimes and leaders operate from 'whatever ego-made-god-being-served' and indiscriminately desecrate life and crush it into ash.

 

Praying for this world, the Church, continues to observe the ‘Feast of Christ the King.’ A day to remind and encourage the church that Christ was a different kind of king.

 

Although today’s Gospel comes from John’s perspective, My kingdom does not belong to this world, year B of the lectionary has had us dwell in the Gospel of Mark. Mark clearly introduces Jesus as messiah – Son of God. Mark saw no need to write a backstory or origin story for Jesus. It was immediately important to plunge right into Jesus’ public ministry and to persist in announcing the kingdom of God. The kingdom was breaking through into the world’s mess by acts of authority and authoritative commands.  Divine authority ushered into the world, through Jesus’ commands: follow me, leave your family, get up and walk, demons be gone, storm be still -  

Bystanders in the Gospel of Mark repeatedly ask, “By what authority does Jesus do these things?”

It was quite the campaign, full of preaching, healing, and casting out demons. The Gospel of Mark leaves in the tricky passages other synoptic Gospels left out because some how they too illustrate Christ as a different kind of king. Mark portrays Jesus as a secret Messiah, with commands to the disciples and followers to not tell anyone. Jesus didn’t want the people to make him the Messiah they were long-hoping for. Instead, Jesus’ authority and Messiahship was affirmed on the cross through suffering and death. A different kind of king.

 

The Remembrance Day ceremony ended with the singing of 'God Save the King' and this year it sounded and felt different. With all that is going on in the world, with the continued reading of the Gospel of Mark, God Save the King was not just sung thinking of Charles III. It was sung with hope that the world may realize, recognize, and embrace a king who is kin and works for commonwealth.

 

Perhaps you are one of many who thinks it is time to put God Save the King to rest and even forget being part of the Commonwealth. But there is within the song, sentiment and words, that should remind us that we believe in a different kind of reign. We have faith that rulers can be different. Right in the song, there is a remnant of faith, and a very simple prayer: God, save our GRACIOUS king.

 

Maybe this is what faith means today, remaining faithful to a belief in a different kind of kingship and kinship. Maybe being faithful means voting for and supporting political candidates and leaders based on their graciousness. Maybe faithfulness is praying for leaders, all leaders, continuously.

Is this not a song prayer to sing for all rulers and leaders: God, save our GRACIOUS Prime Minister, Gracious President, Gracious Emperor, Gracious Supreme Leader, Gracious Chancellor, Gracious Chairman, Gracious Duke-Duchess, or Queen-King? Is this not a phrase to pray and sing to remind rulers that they are to be gracious, to remind ourselves that authority can be gracious, and to encourage us to hold onto hope that one day this messed up world will embrace kinship and commonwealth?

 

Gracious.

Save our gracious leader. Save the parts of our leaders that are filled with grace: compassion, mercy, forgiveness, and love. Save the parts of our leaders that work together for good. In praying this simple prayer for the leaders of the world, we stand firm in Jesus’ authority which was affirmed through the cross. Receiving God’s grace through a kinship of self-sacrificing love – the height of human understanding of kingship is turned upside down and redeemed. It is this grace that we believe can change the world. It is this grace to which we cling. It is this grace that we immediately and continually are called to proclaim.

 

Christ the King Sunday is the last Sunday of the liturgical year. We have walked with Jesus – the Messiah, the Son of God - through the Gospel of Mark. At the end Mark writes:

As the women entered the tomb… a young man dressed in white robe… said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. …go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. – Mk. 16: 5-8

 

In 2024 the world is in a mess.

Coming to the tomb and entering it, we have been told, ‘do not be alarmed.’ We have witnessed the death of Jesus and the rising of Christ. We have experienced the fullness of God’s grace. But leaving from the tomb we encounter a world that has us living in both terror and amazement. Often, we say nothing of this to anyone, for we are afraid.

This reign of Christ Sunday hear once again the words, ‘do not be alarmed.’ Do not let fear hinder you as an individual or as a church community from holding faith and hope that grace can and will penetrate the harden hearts of those in positions of leadership. Continually pray for gracious leaders. May the mess in the world be redeemed by gracious kinship.

 

Director of Liturgy, Melissa Hayes, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, CA shares on their website a beautiful prayer for Christ the King Sunday. Let us pray:

Most gracious God,

Who in Jesus of Nazareth showed us an alternative to the kings, queens and emperors of history, help us to revere and emulate Jesus’ leadership: to love, and to seek justice for all people. Help us to recognize the true grandeur and life-changing power based in loving you and all of our neighbours. In Christ Jesus with you and the Holy Spirit, may we co-create a world ruled not through domination, but in that radical and all-powerful compassion and love. Amen.