Trinity Episcopal Church
Towson, MD
Year B - Christ the King (Proper 29) - November 22, 2015
2 Samuel 23:1-7
Psalm 132:1-13,(14-19)
Revelation 1:4b-8
John 18:33-37
I put together a project for Trinity a couple years ago. It was called, where does God show
up? Some of you may have participated in it either in a committee meeting or
vestry or another group. My main intention was to have us, as a gathered body of followers of
Jesus, to
start to tune ourselves in to
where the Kingdom may be breaking forth breaking
forth into this world.
I’ll admit, it’s not an easy process. Anytime we engage in an activity like this, we start to try to look deep and
go to those places where it’s sometimes difficult to go. Deep
into our thoughts… We realize very quickly that in order to get a glimpse of the Kingdom, we need to remain optimistic and
hopeful, remembering
all of God’s promises... promises that
all will be well... everything will be ok, because all things will be
restored in Jesus. That our sins, which divide and enslave us will become non-existent, as
we are freed and brought together.
But, How do we recognize the Kingdom of God? What does it look like??
We have a difficult time describing something that is hard for us to see or imagine, especially if we haven’t spent much time thinking about
it. With everything that surrounds us, we would probably do much better at
telling folks what
the kingdom is not, rather than what it is.
On this Christ the King Sunday… The very last Sunday
of the Liturgical Year… All
the readings today point to Christ Jesus, the
anointed one of God, as King... but not just King… THE King of all Kings, and
not just Lord… THE Lord of Lords.
In last words attributed to David found in the 2nd book
of Samuel, David seems to be reviewing his life, trying to determine if he would be considered a good king... a good king who who ruled over his people justly in a healthy fear of God, being
like a light or a beacon of hope to his people, providing order and security… Or did he rule without God, being like a prickly thorn. Being
a tyrant king that no one liked to be around. Someone
who causes the people torment.
I believe that David had his issues, as we all have issues, but
I do believe that David thought himself to
be a good King. But
is it the Kingdom of God?
I would think that at various times in David’s reign, people thought the Davidic Kingdom
was of God, if
not the very Kingdom of God…
So, what does the Kingdom of God look like?
The Kingdom of God is just. The people within the kingdom of God are
in harmony and
they have hope and security. There
is no worry or torment.
In the Revelation of John the Divine as he was on the island of Patmos, John records a vision of the Kingdom, where
Jesus is on the throne, surrounded
by many faithful witnesses.
John refers to King Jesus as loving… one who sacrificed himself to free us
from sins. A
king that makes us the go-between, the priests, to
help others recognize the Kingdom. John goes on to say that everyone in due time will recognize Jesus as Lord and
King. And, those that don’t believe and don’t submit to his just rule, or those that fought him and his way will
find themselves dwelling in misery.
So, what does the Kingdom of God look like?
The Kingdom of God is a glorious
kingdom filled
with loyal and faithful followers who
become ambassadors of a King... Ambassadors of a King that gives up his very self to make everything right and restores
the whole creation to
perfect harmony. The Kingdom of God is a Kingdom that everyone will recognize because
of its righteous King, Jesus.
Jesus is brought before Pilate after he was unjustly arrested and Pilate questions him, “Are
you the King of the Jews?” Jesus seems surprised that Pilate has come to such a
conclusion. After questioning Jesus and his actions, Jesus replies, “My kingdom is not of
this world. If
my kingdom were from this world, my
followers would be fighting to keep me from
being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here… I came into the world to testify to
the truth. Everyone
who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Then in one of the most profound responses… Pilate asks him, “What is truth?”
So, what does the Kingdom of God look like? The kingdom of God is a place not
like this world as we know it. It is a place where the truth of God, the love of God, and the ultimate
kingship of God is known. It’s not a structural or political jurisdiction that Pilate
expects, like the kingship of David, but
it’s a universal and cosmic kingship where
God reigns supreme.
This world… the world as we know it is broken and hurting. There is hatred, and famine, and war, and horror and killing, and fear, and oppression,
and evil. It can be seen most recently in the downright hateful reactions of people as they fearfully reject helping
others because
of their nationality, religion, or even
the color of their skin – fearful
that they might somehow be terrorists. Yes, I am referring to the Syrian refugees, mostly women and children that
are fleeing from there war torn country where,
if they stay would mean certain death. Brothers and sisters, If
we act in fear, then evil has won.
We so desperately need Jesus, our courageous, loving and righteous
King to
guide us into all truth, because I’m not sure that the kingdoms of this world have any clue what truth is.
We as Christians… we know truth, because we belong to the truth… We, as Christians are ambassadors of the Kingdom of
God. We belong to the kingdom and it’s our responsibility to answer
the calling of truth and
respond with open hearts and open minds. If we let the fear and hate in, it becomes an evil cancer that eats
at the truth that is in us.
We are people who know where God shows up, and we know what the Kingdom of God looks
like, even
though our feeble words, ideas, and descriptions fail sometimes to do it any justice.
So, what does the Kingdom of God look like?
I would like you to just close your eyes for a minute… Close your eyes and take a deep
breath…
Picture a world where there is no hate… only love.
Where there is no separation… only
harmony, hope, and security.
Where
there is no worry, torment, or fear… only
righteousness, freedom, and peace.
Can you picture such a place? I know it’s difficult, it's difficult because we've never experienced it…
But as people of truth… as faithful believers in Jesus Christ, we
have what it takes to make a difference in this world… We have what it takes to make a dent in the horrors, by responding in love… to
take away the fears of this world, by responding in courage.
But, being ambassadors of the Kingdom of God is difficult work... So we need to remember that we are working for a loving King Jesus, who gave up everything in order to
give the world a chance. God loves this world, as broken and hurting as it is… God loves the world right into its
perfect restoration. And God loves us, as broken and hurting as we sometimes are… God loves us right into forming us
into the ambassadors that
God needs to be the agents of the Kingdom.
We have work to do, and it’s not going to be easy… We have so much work, I
suggest that we solicit as much help as we can get. Bringing forth the kingdom of God is hard work, it’s messy and costly work…
Our
work is this… in 3 steps...
Our work is to look for and recognize where God shows up in the mundane of everyday life and
celebrate it! Give it a chance… This is
not blind optimism, this is constantly searching for the
glimmers of grace that always seems to show up. At work or at school or at church, they are right there in front of us. God is there wanting to show us all glimpses of the glorious Kingdom.
The next step is witness to what you have recognized… after you see the almighty, say
something about it. Tell your story of salvation. Be an ambassador for the Kingdom and
usher it in. If we are waiting for the world to
point it out, we will all be lost. We need to be the ones to share the kingdom with others.
Finally, we are ALL called to respond… This is the costly and messy part. You many have heard the saying… “Jesus has no hands in
this world but ours.” This is so true... We are called to respond with our actions, our lives, and our
resources to this hurt and broken world, being Christ's hands at work in the world around us.
Jesus works through us as ambassadors for the kingdom agents of God’s grace and healing, advocates
of God’s love and peace. When is the last time you reminded someone that God loves them? Reminded them that not only you love them, but God loves
them?
We have a great and loving God, and we know God through the kingship
of Jesus Christ, who
came into this world to testify to God’s truth, God’s
love, and God’s abundant grace… Jesus, the king, gave himself up completely through death and was raised on the third day. Jesus, who is present with us today in the nourishing sacrament of the bread and wine, his own body
and blood… Ever-giving us the source of sustenance and strength to do the work of bringing forth the
Kingdom…
The Kingdom of God, here on earth, and as our Lords prayer goes... Here on Earth, as it is in heaven… amen!
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