Sermons

November 26, 2006

Christ The King

The Rev. Rob McCann
Interim Rector, St, Matthew's Episcopal Church

On April 13, 1742, in Dublin at the fashionable Church of Saint Michan (My Can) Georg Friedrich Handel led the first performance of his new oratorio, ?Messiah.? I can hear in my imagination the thundering joy of the chorus singing what has become a cultural icon for the entire Western World -
King of Kings and Lord of Lords

Is the oratorio about the triumphalist language of power? Or does it have a deeper, wider purpose? What does this magnificent verbal flourish suggest?

Whenever the gospel text turns apocalyptic, or begins to deal with themes of end times, conjuring up fear, there would seem to be only two opposing choices of interpreting the meaning -
Either literally - and join the doomsday preachers
Or - take it metaphorically to move us to a broader level of understanding and a chance for renewal

I remember standing on the high balcony at St. Margaret's House, a hostel run by Christ Church, Nazareth - one designed for pilgrims. It?s the ultimate place with a view for the ultimate destruction of the world. Some one suggested that the Jerry Failwell zealots - those who keep moving the end times goal post might want to rent the hostel whenever they feel the shakes coming.

The view overlooks where east and west, north and south cross each other and come together. It?s the strategic place where for 6000 years armies strode through with captivity and mayhem in mind.

Megiddo is the royal box in one of the great theatres of history.

Armies have surged from the surrounding area to play their parts on the flat stage of the Jezreel Valley. Not surprisingly, Armageddon (Mountain of Megiddo) has become the symbol of the battle to end all wars - to end all time. (Rev. 16:16)

It?s the traditional biblical undoing to indicate that time?s running out - It?s the literature to get you going and wondering about the future.

One preacher got so carried away that he said ? "The Second Coming of Christ is so close this might be my last sermon." Great applause erupted.

Megiddo?s position at the head of the most important pass through the Carmel range gave it control of the Way to the Sea, the ancient trade-route between Egypt and the East.

It became the battleground for every one of the emerging empires.
It became a valley filled with big notions about last judgment.

The Gospel is saturated with language of both the imminent return of Christ and the royal separation of the sheep and the goats.

For most of us, royalty is the stuff of -
Tabloids
Talk shows

Yet when it came to the longing hopes of the people of Israel, kings still figured in a big way. God could take a big-time sinner like David and use his gifts of leadership to forge a unified people out of twelve scrappy and scruffy tribes.

The symbol of royalty still reigns in Scripture ? even though it a cymbal that doesn?t sound much any more.

We celebrate today the Feast of Christ the King precisely because we are at the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year. Next Sunday begins the season of Advent.

There are a number of passages that deal with the kingship of Jesus. For example, Pilate asked Jesus ? "Are you a King?"

He responds ? "My kingdom does not belong to this world."

Two things emerge in the exchange -
Jesus does not reject the title of king, but neither does he accept the ordinary political implications of the title. His is another kind of kingship entirely. And his authority derives its power from a source other than this world.

What the meaning is really trying to say is that the source of my kingship is not from here.

The whole of the New Testament makes it clear that response to the reign of God and the kingship of Jesus has everything to do with how we live out our lives and our earthly citizenship - how we work, play, buy and sell - how we live the Christian ethic and care not only for our own, but for everyone.

Personally, I like to think of these times as starting over times - a way of seeking the holy.

I remember as a child having an Orthodox Jewish family as neighbors. Every Friday, at sunset, everything would grow quiet. Even the lights in the house seem to dim. They explained to me that that this time was sacred time for the family, to start shabbas supper, and to enjoy family. I was asked on one occasion to light their fireplace - for that would have been considered work.

All this rhythm really impressed me even though I really didn't understand it.

Setting aside Sabbath time week after week does something for the body and soul. Remember to keep holy the Lord?s Day. Sabbath rest might be the gift around the coming Christmas tree that needs to be unwrapped.

Our Sunday has a lot to building a Sabbath attitude that opens up space for God, family and friends and the wider community.

Let's be less concerned about end times. Rather let?s be concerned about renewing times.

In the Book of Exodus the commandment is tied to Creation and the holiness of God.

In the Book of Deuteronomy, the commandment is tied to the experience of a people newly released from slavery. Slaves can't take a day off; free people can. Rest is s recurring testimony against the drudgery of slavery. This is tied to social justice.

The renewing times are tied to the Sabbath, which are revolutionary times. We liberate TIME. It says to us that we love God and so we are not atheists;
It says that we love our neighbor so we are not insensitive to others;
It says that we won?t be tied to our work as slaves.

Someone described the Sabbath attitude in the following way -
It enjoys rather than uses.
It rests rather than acts.
It is characterized by lightness ? a lighter ego, a lighter humor, a lighter action.

The joy of being a Christian is that we can start over again, in fact each day and the Sabbath is our strong weekly reminder.

Sermons

November 26, 2006

Christ The King

The Rev. Rob McCann Interim Rector, St, Matthew's Episcopal Church

The Rev. Rob McCann
Interim Rector, St, Matthew's Episcopal Church