Christ the King

Sermon Preached at Evensong & Benediction on the feast of Christ the King.

Today we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. What is Christ’s kingdom and what does it mean for us? I think one answer to those questions can be found in tonight’s readings.

In our first reading the Prophet Isaiah sees a day when the two great nations, Egypt and Assyria, who have historically been opposed to the Jewish people will unite with Israel to worship the Lord. He literally sees many of their differences being paved over with a great highway that stretches through each land.

In our second reading, Peter writes that Christ died for the sins of all, the righteous as well as the unrighteous, that he might bring all of us to God. He illustrates his point by stating that Jesus preached even to the dead, thus ensuring that everyone hear the Good News.

Christ’s kingdom is open for all of us. Jesus is the savior and head of all peoples. Not just some peoples, not just important peoples or rich peoples, but all peoples. And he invites all of us to become citizens of his kingdom through Baptism.

As people of faith and citizens of that kingdom, I believe that we are called to show others that God welcomes them too. There are many ways to do that, but I think Saint Peter gives a good starting point. He says: “Always be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.”

Whether greeting a newcomer at church on a Sunday morning, talking with a friend over coffee, or answering questions from a stranger on a train, I think that being able to speak kindly with others about our faith in Jesus can help point someone towards Jesus. I think that’s something that each of us can do. I believe that it is something that we, as citizens of Christ’s kingdom, are called to do.

Evensong at Saint Thomas, Fifth Avenue

ALL SAINTS' DAY; NOVEMBER 1: EVENING PRAYER:

My first experience of Saint Thomas came about 11 years ago. When I first walked through the door I stood– like most people I think – and just stared at the amazing raredos. To this day I think its one of the most breathtaking and beautiful pieces of art that I have ever seen.

I want to talk a little bit this evening about how we identify the saints. At Saint Thomas, you can pick up an official pamphlet that identifies everyone on the reredos. In the real world its often not so simple.

In the passage read tonight from his Revelation, Saint John refers to those who enter into the New Jerusalem as those who are written into the book of life. In a passage that is read at Mass on All Saints’ Day, he speaks about 144,000 who are marked with the seal of God. Sometimes Christians view passages like this as a way to identify who is saved and who is not.

One night years ago after answering the door my mother was greeted – as probably has happened to many of us – with the question of whether she had been saved. When the woman pressed her about her salvation, my mother asked a question. “Doesn’t your church believe that only 144,000 people are saved?” “Yes”, the woman said, “It says so in the Book of Revelation.” “And how many members does you church have?”, asked my mother. “10 million”, the woman answered proudly. “Well, why are you trying to recruit more members when there isn’t enough room in heaven for the ones you already have?”. The woman had no response.

Its important to note that Saint John also sees a multitude from all nations standing before the throne of God. A multitude so large that it is beyond reckoning.

The church identifies as saints some people who have shown their love of Jesus by being merciful to others, by being peacemakers, by showing to love of God to family, friends, enemies and strangers. The Roman church and the Episcopal church have processes whereby the names and stories of these famous men and women are written down to be remembered for ages to come. But the church has never claimed to have identified all of the saints. That’s why we celebrate All Saints’ Day. Most of the saints are people that have faded into history. Most are people who take up the cross yet remain part of the unnumbered and unnamed multitude following Jesus on the way.

I think we can try to imitate the famous saints of the past. We can echo Saint Mary’s “yes” to God or boldly proclaim Jesus like Saint Stephen did. But I don’t think we should stop there. Often the best examples are offered by the people that we encounter each day. The people we live with, work with or worship with. The people who spend some time working at soup kitchens. The people who donate money to ensure that the church that was there for them will be there for others in years to come. People who give some part of themselves each day to show the love of God to someone else. Today we celebrate all of those wonderful examples of faith and we pray that the Holy Spirit fills each of us to see and to imitate these examples in our own lives.