Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, Advent 1(full size gallery)
Catherine was away in Philadelphia. Phil Fitzhugh presided and presented the sermon. Phil earned a MDiv degree from Liberty University.
This is a "summing up" Sunday as well as the last Sunday in Year A. Since last advent we have encountered Christ in many forms in the lectionary. Jesus as Good Shepherd, Jesus as Human and Divine, Jesus as King/Judge, Jesus as Teacher/Rabbi, Jesus as Sacrificial Victim, Jesus as Savior /Redeemer. King Eternal, Rule of the Jews and Gentiles, King of Kings, King of the Ages, King of the Earth.
We call this Sunday, "Last Pentecost" or "Christ the King."Christ the King Sunday was a Catholic idea. Pope Pius XI wanted to specifically commemorate Christ as king, and instituted the feast in the Western calendar in 1925. Pius connected the denial of Christ as king to the rise of secularism. Secularism was on the rise, and many Christians, even Catholics, were doubting Christ’s authority, as well as the Church’s, and even doubting Christ’s existence. Pius XI, and the rest of the Christian world, witnessed the rise of dictatorships in Europe, and saw Catholics being taken in by these earthly leaders. Ironically today in Adult Ed we concluded the "History of Christianity" which mentioned him.
The Gospel is the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. Canon Lance Ousley of the Diocese of Olympia writes about this Sunda. "While a parable is always simply a parable and not a one-to-one literal analogy, Jesus paints a vivid picture of how an integrated life of Christian faith is lived in the world. Those who respond openly to the needs of others (both as individuals and as congregations), active in right-making in the world are living into the present reality of God’s kingdom being established on earth… The kingdom of God is ours for the living, but we must live into it to experience the joy in our lives. Outside of this, in a world wrought with unmitigated hunger, thirst, alienation, nakedness, disease, loneliness, and oppression, there are many tears and headaches from anxious grinding of teeth – disconnected from right-relationship in the world. Note, this is not about the King doling out punishment, but it is the eventual reality of a life lived without compassion for one’s fellow humanity. Jesus clearly connects the lives of those marginalized with being a part of the community of God’s beloved. Therefore, Jesus connects those given the responsibility of proclaiming and establishing God’s kingdom (the Baptized) with the relationship of meeting the needs of all whom God loves (read as, every person), especially "the least of these," stewarding our lives and resources for this kingdom work. Jesus simply is telling us, if we love him we will love everyone, even and especially."