Held Together

(Scriptures: Jeremiah 23:1-6
Colossians 1:11-20 Luke 23:33-43)

Today, liturgical churches such as our own celebrate Christ the King Sunday, or in inclusive language, Reign of Christ Sunday. This designation is made for the final Sunday of the church year. As often happens, the church calendar and the secular calendar are out of sync: while the rest of the world celebrates a long Thanksgiving weekend, the church begins a new liturgical year. At the same time, while the rest of the world will already start celebrating Christmas on black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving which is traditionally the biggest shopping day of the year, we will be celebrating four Sundays of Advent, four Sundays of waiting and preparation. For myself, I find the disconnects between the church calendar and the secular calendar a small, but helpful reminder that we, as church, are not called to just go along with whatever the world is doing. Rather we are called to give voice to a different way of living, to model an alternative way of being in the world. And this includes a different way of experiencing time.

On this Christ the King Sunday, we are given several different ways to look at Christ’s reign. Our reading from Jeremiah contrasts the unfaithful religious leaders of the time, whom Jeremiah compares to bad shepherds who neglect their sheep and leave them to their own devices, with the one whom Jeremiah says is coming, the righteous Branch whom God will raise up from David’s line, who will be king and govern faithfully, and gather together the sheep who have been scattered.

In the letter to the Colossians, Paul gives us a cosmic view of Christ: the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, for whom and through whom all things in heaven and on earth, all things visible and invisible have been created, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers. Paul tells us that Christ is the one who holds all of creation together, as well as the one through whom we are reconciled to God.

And then we have our Gospel reading. Could two pictures of Jesus look more different, be at more of a contrast? In Colossians, Paul tells us that Christ holds everything in heaven and earth together. In our Gospel reading, we’re at the mountain of crucifixion, and seemingly everything is falling apart, coming undone. Jesus, this one whom Paul calls the firstborn of creation, is nailed to a cross, seemingly unable to rescue himself, let alone anyone else. Of course, we read the account from the vantage point of our faith, but consider how it would look if we were there as onlookers. Who’s running this show?- Seemingly anyone but Jesus The religious leaders mock Jesus – he saved others – or so he represented – why will he not save himself, if he’s able? The Roman soldiers offer sour wine and, taking their cue from the inscription over Jesus’ head, mock him – “If you’re king of the Jews, save yourself!” And the people stand by powerless and silent. The religious establishment had its agenda, and Rome had its agenda – and maintenance of the status quo was the goal of both agendas. Jesus seemed to threaten the status quo, and so he had to be gotten out of the way.

But Luke’s Gospel gives us subtle reminders of who’s really in charge. Jesus asked for God’s forgiveness of those who had just crucified him – “forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Jesus offered forgiveness to the penitent thief – “today you will be with me in Paradise.” Even on the cross, Jesus is reaching out to offer salvation to those around him. Even on the cross, Jesus is acting as the good shepherd, gathering together and holding together anyone who will listen – even if it’s only the criminal on the cross next to him.

Appearances can be deceiving. In a moment when it appears Jesus is a helpless victim of others’ agendas, we find that He is very much in control. What appears to be the unraveling of Jesus’ hopes in reality becomes Jesus’ greatest triumph. And as I consider the chaos in my own life and how so much in our society appears to be unraveling, as I consider the challenges faced by our neighborhood and the struggles of our congregation, I take immense comfort in knowing that, despite all appearances to the contrary, Jesus is in control.

Remember that, as I began this sermon, I contrasted the world’s calendar with the church’s calendar, saying that the world and the church experience time differently. The same can be said of the way the world exercises power, and how God exercises power; how the world tries to bring about peace, and how God brings about peace. When the world wants to impose power, it gives orders, sets up people to enforce those orders and establishes punishments when those orders are disobeyed. But the power of God is made perfect in human weakness – rather than coming down from above like a hammer, it springs up from below, like wheat growing from seed. When the world wants to bring about peace, it sends an army. When God wants to bring about peace, God sends a baby.
The world worships power that acts quickly through force. But God offers power that works slowly, through love.

You don’t need me to tell you that we live in difficult days. We live amid global political and economic uncertainty, amid division about the future direction of our own country, amid widespread unemployment and poverty. Along with these “big” global and national issues, we struggle with the more ordinary challenges and tragedies that life offers – the illness or death of a loved one, loss of a job, the breakup of a family or relationship. It’s only human to wonder where God is in all of this, to wonder if anyone is in charge. But our Gospel reading reminds us that we serve a King who has experienced the worst that human life has to offer, and came out on the other side triumphant. Where is God in our suffering? – standing right beside us.

From Paul’s letter to the Colossians:
11May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. May we at Emanuel Church be strong to endure whatever lies ahead. Amen.
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Please join us on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. at Emanuel United Church of Christ. We're on Fillmore Street (off Thompson). www.emanuelphila.org