Who’s King?

November 24, 2024

“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I say?” Luke 6:46

For many Christian denominations, today, Sunday, November 24, is recognized as “Christ the King Sunday,” traditionally celebrated on the last Sunday before the Advent Season, the four Sundays that precede Christmas Day. Like so many other Christian festivals, many assume that this particular festival started “way back when,” maybe in the earliest days of the Church or at least by medieval times.

But no. 

Pope Pius XI added Christ the King Sunday to the church calendar in 1925, barely one hundred years ago, in response to the growing prevalence of secularism and atheism.  WWI with all its cruelties could not be forgotten, a Great Depression was on its way, and the threats of Fascism and Nazism were becoming very real. Pope Pius wanted to invite the faithful (Roman Catholics, but Protestant denominations have since also wanted to be reminded) to consider who was really “king” of their lives (hopefully, Jesus Christ) and how loyal they were being to him. 

Were Christians, the Pope wondered, indeed being faithful servants of a King who asked them to feed the hungry, include the outsider, seek peace, stand up for the oppressed, forgive their enemies, not judge others, share what they had, and love one another? Were they being faithful servants of a King who counted men, women, children, slaves, Jews, Gentiles, and foreigners as equals in the eyes of God? Were they modeling a King who was a servant, not a dictator? Were they modeling a King who thought of others before himself, even to the extent of giving up his life for them? And could they resist all the lures and promises of false leaders who promised them earthly rewards at the cost of their allegiance to Jesus Christ? Pope Pius hoped that Christ the King Sunday would serve as a reminder that Christ’s reign is eternal, even while governments come and go.

Today, November 24, 2024, seems a particularly relevant day to ponder those concerns of a pope one hundred years ago. We in the United States are less than two months away from placing a new president in office. To whom are we  – who dare call ourselves “Christians” – giving our allegiance to?

Perhaps today is a good time to listen to Jesus’ question to his followers: “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” Jesus has no patience for hypocrites, and he challenges us to make a choice between kings and to remember that love of Christ also includes obedience to him. Claiming Jesus is Lord and then acting otherwise is meaningless.

So, whom shall we serve?

I haven’t composed my own poem for this day, so please allow me to share one that I wish I had written by Malcolm Guite at https://malcolmguite.wordpress.com/2012/11/24/the-feast-of-christ-the-king-a-sonnet/.

Christ the King

Mathew 25: 31-46

Our King is calling from the hungry furrows
Whilst we are cruising through the aisles of plenty,
Our hoardings screen us from the man of sorrows,
Our soundtracks drown his murmur: ‘I am thirsty’.
He stands in line to sign in as a stranger
And seek a welcome from the world he made,
We see him only as a threat, a danger,
He asks for clothes, we strip-search him instead.
And if he should fall sick then we take care
That he does not infect our private health,
We lock him in the prisons of our fear
Lest he unlock the prison of our wealth.
But still on Sunday we shall stand and sing
The praises of our hidden Lord and King.

Blessings ~ Rosemary

Photo: Adobe