This email is a week late, but thank you thank you THANK YOU for your reflections on Christ the King Sunday. I share your feelings of discomfort regarding this day in the church calendar year. Reframing the language of Christ the King to Christ the Source of the River is oh so helpful to me. I love this image! It's powerful, beautiful and rich! Diana, you have been my "teacher" for decades and I continue to be profoundly grateful for your work. You are open, honest and courageous and your teachings continue to lead me to greater faith and faithfulness. Appreciate you!
Kingship as we know it is the exact opposite from Christ. I had actually never heard of this Christ the King as part of the liturgical calendar, but then I only taught Bible Study classes at my home with some of my renegade friends who had heard enough about "Onward Christian Soldiers" at church (this was in the '70s and Vietnam had just ended).
I am an historian of the American Civil War and have read enough about the horrors man can inflict upon man. I do genealogical searches on soldiers from my town and decided to do my family's. I did not find many men in my family in American wars after the 17th century. However, my paternal grandmother's family was very proud of our heritage. I am not as enthused. I just recently found out that we are descended from knights, and, oh yes, kings.Plantagenets, whose kings were responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths. I can barely stand to read about them. Unlike the "Kingship" of Christ they were likely to cut off people's feet rather than wash their feet like Christ did with his followers. Enough about Kingship.
I like your river analogy since there are many references to water in the Bible. In the Old Testament, there is the Flood. In the New Testament, Christ offered the Samaritan woman at the well " living water", John baptized Jesus and so on. It is a form of purification as I imperfectly, perhaps, understand it.
Finally, I wish that there was a better word than "dominion" since so many people think it means to dominate. I keep telling my husband that it means to be a caretaker of the earth and all its creatures. Fortunately, he finally seems to get it.
I am thinking subtlety of language was lost in translation of the Bible from the original ancient text to contemporary word usage, but maybe we are just guilty of being too blind to see.
Diana, first time comment. But I agree with problem of king and kingdom. I prefer kindom for the Beloved Community which the gospels and I believe even most scripture is trying to reveal though veiled from their limited knowledge of humanity.
"the head of a river, the source." This is so meaningful to me, Diana. As well as:"'dominion' was never intended to mean domination." We've gotten into so much trouble and tragedy via reliance on domination. I can see it's magnetic pull--force can get something done quickly. but oh, the cost--we brutalize ourselves as well as others.
My grandson is 15 and is going through the confirmation process now in the Lutheran church (ELCA). He was baptized on Christ the King Sunday 15 years ago. When he was about 13, he joined the group that writes the Prayers of the People. This was his Sunday to write the Prayers and I asked him if he would mention anything about Christ the King Sunday. He wanted no part of this King stuff.. We are on a narrative lectionary. He came over this week and we discussed the readings for today. He did pick one of the verses from Isaiah 2:1-4. He used The Message translation when he prayed for peace especially in Ukraine: “No more will nation fight nation; they won’t play war any more.”
However, in a sermon today I learned that Christ the King Sunday is a relatively recent Holy Day. It was designated by the then Pope in 1925 in opposition to the rising tide of Fascism and Communism.
If you want to hear this part of the sermon by our Assoc Rector at Grace Episcopal Church in Madison, WI, go to this YouTube and locate it at about 37 minutes into the sermon.
I struggle with King language. Today is First time I've ever preached on The King. Colossians made it easier for me to do so. Your comment about the "head" of the river brought to mind Will D.'s "The Glad River". Psalm 46 was a part of the day's readings and I was able to get a mention in today - without your informative "source" commentary though! :) dang it.
I have for a while now always wondered about the Lectionary Readings around the last two Sundays before Advent-- Crucifixion before the Birth of Jesus. And I was equally puzzled Birth of Jesus readings during {or before} Lent? And it is humbling to have to teach or preach these lessons. Even the name Christ the King has and does make this mid western and now older woman uncomfortable. The Priest (Episcopal ) this AM- did mention it was not part of our calendar until around 1925? So thank you to both for an aha moment.! I am not alone in my own musings and teachings before I retired! Keep loving and Challenging us Diana! you give hope! Peace.
I appreciated your thoughts on these texts, especially the insight that all people are kings at the end of the Bible, not just Christ.
The text that came to my mind in church this morning as the crucifixion story was read is Jesus’ response to Pilate’s question, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Instead of identifying himself as a king, Jesus answers, “You have said so.”
However, there was one phrase in your article that bothered me: “Yet, the followers of Jesus insist that the ridicule and violence of the Cross unleash the generative waters of God’s salvation and shalom for the whole world.”
I’d love to hear your thoughts on how the cross unleashes God’s salvation and shalom, since I don’t buy the penal substitution theory of atonement and would be surprised to learn that you do.
Also, that quoted sentence seems to say that God’s salvation and shalom did not exist prior to Jesus’ death on the cross. I don’t believe that either, and it seems to reinforce the antisemitism of some Christians.
I’m quite sure that wasn’t your intent; these are just two theological issues I’m wrestling with and would love to hear more from you about.
Diana, your point is well taken about Jesus anti-hierarchical message, but how do you reconcile that with his teaching about God, his Father's Kingdom. If Jesus is Christ and of a piece with God and Spirit, is he not then the ruler of "The Kingdom of God" on earth and in the heavens?
thank you for head of a river. we must take great care what images we choose, what metaphor. The power of some images is so great that they govern our attempt to use them. So it has been with "king" and 'lord". Our devotion to hierarchy has been and still is so great that our attempts to say, "no, Caesar is not lord, all we need for life and living is found in the teaching and life of this Jesus guy" gets translated to "Jesus is the next Caesar, and Jesus' followers are to behave like Ceasar's followers: violently conquer and exploit !!!" so it has been.
This email is a week late, but thank you thank you THANK YOU for your reflections on Christ the King Sunday. I share your feelings of discomfort regarding this day in the church calendar year. Reframing the language of Christ the King to Christ the Source of the River is oh so helpful to me. I love this image! It's powerful, beautiful and rich! Diana, you have been my "teacher" for decades and I continue to be profoundly grateful for your work. You are open, honest and courageous and your teachings continue to lead me to greater faith and faithfulness. Appreciate you!
About words.
Kingship as we know it is the exact opposite from Christ. I had actually never heard of this Christ the King as part of the liturgical calendar, but then I only taught Bible Study classes at my home with some of my renegade friends who had heard enough about "Onward Christian Soldiers" at church (this was in the '70s and Vietnam had just ended).
I am an historian of the American Civil War and have read enough about the horrors man can inflict upon man. I do genealogical searches on soldiers from my town and decided to do my family's. I did not find many men in my family in American wars after the 17th century. However, my paternal grandmother's family was very proud of our heritage. I am not as enthused. I just recently found out that we are descended from knights, and, oh yes, kings.Plantagenets, whose kings were responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths. I can barely stand to read about them. Unlike the "Kingship" of Christ they were likely to cut off people's feet rather than wash their feet like Christ did with his followers. Enough about Kingship.
I like your river analogy since there are many references to water in the Bible. In the Old Testament, there is the Flood. In the New Testament, Christ offered the Samaritan woman at the well " living water", John baptized Jesus and so on. It is a form of purification as I imperfectly, perhaps, understand it.
Finally, I wish that there was a better word than "dominion" since so many people think it means to dominate. I keep telling my husband that it means to be a caretaker of the earth and all its creatures. Fortunately, he finally seems to get it.
I am thinking subtlety of language was lost in translation of the Bible from the original ancient text to contemporary word usage, but maybe we are just guilty of being too blind to see.
Thank you for your article.
Diana, first time comment. But I agree with problem of king and kingdom. I prefer kindom for the Beloved Community which the gospels and I believe even most scripture is trying to reveal though veiled from their limited knowledge of humanity.
Very much needed today, thank you!
"the head of a river, the source." This is so meaningful to me, Diana. As well as:"'dominion' was never intended to mean domination." We've gotten into so much trouble and tragedy via reliance on domination. I can see it's magnetic pull--force can get something done quickly. but oh, the cost--we brutalize ourselves as well as others.
My grandson is 15 and is going through the confirmation process now in the Lutheran church (ELCA). He was baptized on Christ the King Sunday 15 years ago. When he was about 13, he joined the group that writes the Prayers of the People. This was his Sunday to write the Prayers and I asked him if he would mention anything about Christ the King Sunday. He wanted no part of this King stuff.. We are on a narrative lectionary. He came over this week and we discussed the readings for today. He did pick one of the verses from Isaiah 2:1-4. He used The Message translation when he prayed for peace especially in Ukraine: “No more will nation fight nation; they won’t play war any more.”
Amen Nathan, amen.
Thanks to all of you regarding the history of Christ the King Sunday!
I love Epworth and will come in early to have some quiet time for myself.
Not my favorite Sunday either.
However, in a sermon today I learned that Christ the King Sunday is a relatively recent Holy Day. It was designated by the then Pope in 1925 in opposition to the rising tide of Fascism and Communism.
If you want to hear this part of the sermon by our Assoc Rector at Grace Episcopal Church in Madison, WI, go to this YouTube and locate it at about 37 minutes into the sermon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQM0frmNen4
This was helpful for me, maybe it will be for you too.
I just registered for Southern Lights. Will look forward to seeing you there.
I struggle with King language. Today is First time I've ever preached on The King. Colossians made it easier for me to do so. Your comment about the "head" of the river brought to mind Will D.'s "The Glad River". Psalm 46 was a part of the day's readings and I was able to get a mention in today - without your informative "source" commentary though! :) dang it.
I have for a while now always wondered about the Lectionary Readings around the last two Sundays before Advent-- Crucifixion before the Birth of Jesus. And I was equally puzzled Birth of Jesus readings during {or before} Lent? And it is humbling to have to teach or preach these lessons. Even the name Christ the King has and does make this mid western and now older woman uncomfortable. The Priest (Episcopal ) this AM- did mention it was not part of our calendar until around 1925? So thank you to both for an aha moment.! I am not alone in my own musings and teachings before I retired! Keep loving and Challenging us Diana! you give hope! Peace.
Free of that at last!!! Thank you for your major thoughtful contribution and for opening the conversation...
I appreciated your thoughts on these texts, especially the insight that all people are kings at the end of the Bible, not just Christ.
The text that came to my mind in church this morning as the crucifixion story was read is Jesus’ response to Pilate’s question, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Instead of identifying himself as a king, Jesus answers, “You have said so.”
However, there was one phrase in your article that bothered me: “Yet, the followers of Jesus insist that the ridicule and violence of the Cross unleash the generative waters of God’s salvation and shalom for the whole world.”
I’d love to hear your thoughts on how the cross unleashes God’s salvation and shalom, since I don’t buy the penal substitution theory of atonement and would be surprised to learn that you do.
Also, that quoted sentence seems to say that God’s salvation and shalom did not exist prior to Jesus’ death on the cross. I don’t believe that either, and it seems to reinforce the antisemitism of some Christians.
I’m quite sure that wasn’t your intent; these are just two theological issues I’m wrestling with and would love to hear more from you about.
Diana, your point is well taken about Jesus anti-hierarchical message, but how do you reconcile that with his teaching about God, his Father's Kingdom. If Jesus is Christ and of a piece with God and Spirit, is he not then the ruler of "The Kingdom of God" on earth and in the heavens?
thank you for head of a river. we must take great care what images we choose, what metaphor. The power of some images is so great that they govern our attempt to use them. So it has been with "king" and 'lord". Our devotion to hierarchy has been and still is so great that our attempts to say, "no, Caesar is not lord, all we need for life and living is found in the teaching and life of this Jesus guy" gets translated to "Jesus is the next Caesar, and Jesus' followers are to behave like Ceasar's followers: violently conquer and exploit !!!" so it has been.