Sunday, 20th November 2022 (Year C)
St Anne’s, Wrenthorpe (Eucharist)
Luke 23:33-43 / Colossians 1:11-20 / Jeremiah 23:1-6
May I speak,
And may we all listen,
In the name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
It has to be said, that this year has given us considerably more exposure to Royalty than previously.
Our monarch of 70 years marked her Platinum Jubilee and then, in the Autumn, at the age of 96, Queen Elizabeth 2nd died and we marked the end of an era.
We watched as the headship of the nation transformed from Queen to King, as Charles – in waiting service for many years – took his place, and we learned to say “God save the King”.
Momentous change for our islands, and more to come, with a Coronation next May.
For those of my generation, Elizabeth was the only Queen we knew.
And now she is gone.
I wonder what it all means to you – queens and kings – the might and majesty of a nation. Ceremony and tradition…..
What did you see?
I imagine that is a question that each of us might give a different response to.
Do these changes change you? Are you transformed?
I imagine that for many people, passing from the shock at the loss of the Queen, through sadness and mourning, to whatever comes next – has indeed been very moving and maybe hopeful. Perhaps it was the Queen’s dedication and long service that you found inspiring?
Many words have been spoken – by us and to us – especially within that fickle, judgmental arena of Royal Watching – how we see those people in the glare of celebrity focus, their behaviour, their suitability, their failings…. All of them!
And let’s not get too overwhelmed in our discourse about political leadership…. And the seeming madness of recent weeks…
We watch and we indicate yes or no, good or bad, life or death – like the gladiatorial arena….!
Even more recently, with King Charles having eggs thrown at him…. Disgraceful and shameful, say the many….. and yet….
This nation has a long history of throwing eggs, and worse, at its leaders. In past times, the monarch would have a much closer association with matters that affected the lives of the people – such as taxation, punishment, waging war….
All that is now removed from the King, through a constitutional government. And yet still we sing:
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save the King.
What if He doesn’t give us cause….. what then?
When his government fails us…. What then?
And what do we remember ….?
I preached on Christ the King a few years ago, and I recalled then the effect that the Netflix series The Crown was having on conversations, about Charles and Diana, the behaviour of Queen and Government etc….
Goodness, how divisive that all was….
In the late 1990’s and beyond, the people revered Diana and demonised Charles and Camilla.
At least that is how it seemed.
And that is what we do.
Yet, we don’t really know them, do we?
And why should we?
Humanity has a deeply rooted need to have human leaders…. In the hope that all of what we need will be provided, and that all of what we fear will be kept away from us.
History has shown this to be mostly folly.
In Old Testament history, the people cried our for strong leaders….
Give us Judges and Kings…. They cried!
They wanted to go the right way… whatever that was, regardless of how God called them to righteousness.
Today, it seems that history has taught us nothing, and that we still allow our lives to be ruled by a few men – yes it is still mostly men that rule the world even in the 21st century, and some of them are rubbish.
Some places have democracies and do their best to make it work.
Others have royal or religious leadership that does very little to set the people free to fulfil their hopes.
Sometimes human hope becomes real from a revolution – removing the dead wood and the old order… and yet sadly, this often ends in just more of the same.
Revolution makes me think of Iran…..
OK, I would appear naive to stand here and bemoan human leadership, in all its forms, as being a really bad thing. I don’t think that at all.
But I also don’t know how or why we put people on those pedestals – we raise them up to places they cannot possibly justify occupying!
And then, the moment they don’t do what we want… 👎🏻
Are we then without hope, in all of this? Are we so fickle, hard to lead and inspire, because we really don’t know what we want – we cannot face our own true fears, and cannot accept our deepest needs and desires?
When a blessing is offered with one hand, do we watch, holding our breath, knowing that it will be taken away with the other?
Our readings today give us some insights and some hope.
I encourage you to read Jeremiah at home – the prophet calls out, lamenting the leaders – the Shepherds – that have scattered the flock and driven them away. There is a longing for Good Shepherds to rise up and lead Israel in the ways of Righteousness, towards God.
And then Paul, writing with joy to the people of Colossae, for they have found the Way – they now know that Jesus is the head of the Church – “In Him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell”.
This was something incredible, that could not be broken or diminished!
And then a passage from Luke – seemingly out of place at any time other than Holy Week.
The Cross of Crucifixion was marked “King of the Jews”.
Hear the rebukes and taunts thrown at the one now raised up on high – elevated in so many ways…..
And then witness the exchange between Jesus and the repentant thief.
Here is one who ‘gets it’ – from acknowledging his own failings to bearing witness to Jesus and the pathway to hope – even in that final moment.
What is the Kingdom of which Jesus is King?
Christ our Servant King is the ruler of a Kingdom that is universal, never-ending – to the end of days; when the Fullness of God is revealed, and all that has come to pass, in faith, is handed to God our Creator.
All are welcomed.
Jesus is a King of a very different kind…
Jesus called out the hierarchies of His day.
He always spoke truth to power, because He knew from whence such power came from, and to whom all majesty and glory should be given!
And He still speaks to us now – as He always does – reminding us that…
God has made the most of human failure – using our all-to-human tendencies to overcome the darkness….
All things are possible.
A very different King in a very different Kingdom!
What about that for a revolution?
That inscription above Jesus, as He hung on the Cross – it wasn’t a form of investiture… or acknowledgment of His connection to King David…
No, it was a criminal charge for which He was now suffering the execution of a criminal…
He arrived on a donkey with a mission of peace and deliverance from the perversions of human enslavement and misrule….
Some may say – Where is the King in all of that?
The Disciple – that’s all of you – will show the way and say… look closer…listen…
My favourite hymn is “How shall I sing that majesty”, written in the 17th century by John Mason.
It speaks for me, as someone who feels very small and insignificant; that I seek nothing more than a beam of light, some warmth, and an acknowledgement that I am of value to God.
We cannot ask the same of our human leaders, for they need the same as us; and for all their wealth and power, they have no more ability to fulfil us than a stone.
What are we to do?
Well, when you look upon our new King or any other leader, in this world:
Hold up a mirror to them; speak truth to power! You will not wilt in their gaze!
Turn the world upside down if you need to… a Revolution of Love and Kindness!
I will be with you on that mission!
Also, place a sturdy ladder up against those pedestals… ensure that those who we elevate can get back down safely without falling too hard, for we put them there.
And if they acknowledge their failings, and still offer us a life of service, with some degree of integrity – see it for what it is.
Hold back the eggs of judgement and give them a chance for a little while, and say NO to ‘cancel culture’.
And when people start praying to the next political or celebrity hopeful, ask how their new messiah will look on a donkey!
And here, my friends, is where we are transformed.
The true royalty of Jesus Christ comes at the ending of His earthly mission, when He prays to the Father: seeking forgiveness for those who have condemned Him; and in His promise of a place in Paradise, by His side, to the one who asks for it.
Look for, and find that hope you seek in Christ the King: that when we fail, and we will – to accept the forgiveness Christ has given to you, and pass that forgiveness on to those “who trespass against” you.
And for all who hunger for justice, with a thirst for truth – tell them about Jesus, about the Kingdom that we are building now, that is waiting for those who turn to Christ – show them what a difference love can make.
And promise them a place by His side….not just in the Paradise that is to come at the end…. but in the Joy that comes from love and forgiveness today.
Amen.
References
Romero, O. (2018) The Scandal of Redemption: When God Liberates the Poor, Saves Sinners, and Heals Nations, Plough
Williams, J. (2011) Lectionary Reflections: Years A, B & C, SPCK
Wright, N.T. (2004) Luke for Everyone – Second Edition, SPCK
https://cac.org/daily-meditations/self-critical-thinking-2016-02-25/
https://cac.org/daily-meditations/find-the-flow-2022-11-18/
Image from Jeremy Perkins on Unsplash