[Magdalen] Christ, the King

[Grace Cangialosi]

In a sermon I actually gave more than once <gasp!> for Christ the King Sunday, I began with the statement, "This king broke all the rules..."
I may use that opening again this time.

> On Nov 20, 2014, at 7:23 AM, Sally Davies <sally.davies at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Just read Val Fizzell's meditation on Christ the King and the parable of
> the sheep and goats.
> 
> Something new struck me...Val mentioned that when a King ascended the
> throne (including recent history in Britain) he would take a new name to
> signify power and authority e.g. "George VI" instead of "Albert".
> 
> So Jesus is given a name, greater and more powerful than any other, before
> which every knee will bow - the typical triumphalist picture so familiar to
> most of us especially those with Evangelical backgrounds. He is Lord and
> King.
> 
> But wait a minute...when is Jesus given his Royal name? According to
> Scripture, before he was born, when Mary is told by the angel, "You shall
> call his name, Jesus" (Luke) - or in Matthew's version, as Joseph is told
> to give Mary's child this name, "for he shall save his people".
> 
> So when is he named, King? Not when he comes on the clouds, with angels, or
> is seen by everyone as seated on the Throne of Heaven, but as he comes to
> Mary's womb - without fanfare, but for the mysterious joy of angels and the
> ecstatic prophecy of a teenage girl. Or at the latest, on the occasion of
> his birth in a humble setting.
> 
> Food for thought about our many projections of "Christ the King" based on
> notions of earthly power and lordship!
> 
> Sally D