The kingship of Christ

Pew Slip Thought – Christ the King – 26th November 2006
Readings: Dan 7:9-10,13-14 Rev 1:4b-8 John 18:33-37

This week we conclude the Church’s year by celebrating “Christ the King”. We are reminded that Christ is enthroned at the right hand of God in heaven, far, far above any earthly power or authority and with all things under his feet (c.f. Eph 1:20-22).
As a teenager I used to worry greatly about the insurmountable problems of the time; the threat of nuclear war, communism, apartheid. In 1985 I heard a speech that expressed confidence that, despite all these terrible problems, the whole of humanity was inevitably moving towards unity, the unity of brother and sisters under one Father in heaven. I could hardly believe it! However, as the years went by, all these insurmountable problems miraculously receded. And so now I do have the courage to believe in the kingship of Christ, the Lord of all history.
Of course, humanity now has a new batch of insurmountable problems to struggle with! There is consumerism, the Middle East and global warming for a start. But let’s place our hope in the kingship of Christ. Let’s work for the day when humanity lives as one family under God. Let’s love our brothers and sisters as God loves them. Let’s be faithful to what God wants from us in each present moment. In this way we can make our contribution to realising on earth the kingship that Christ already lives out in heaven.

Funeral Homily on Lazarus

Reading John 11:17-27

In our scripture reading today we heard about Jesus going to visit a family who were bereaved. Lazarus, Martha and Mary were brothers and sisters, but Lazarus had just died and Martha and Mary were grieving. Jesus grieved too. The extract that we read today did not include it, but it is this story that includes the shortest verse in the whole bible; the famous words “Jesus wept”.

Jesus knows what it is to suffer the loss of a loved one. Jesus knows what it is to weep. And this is very strange because the story shows us Jesus as the Resurrection and the Life, as the one who conquers death. At the end of this story Jesus calls Lazarus back from the dead and restores him to life once again. But he does not do this until after he has wept, after he has suffered the pain of separation that death brings about.

So as we morn today, let us remember Jesus. Let us welcome him as Martha and Mary did. Let us know that he weeps with us, as he wept for Lazarus. Let us be confident that Jesus is the one who has conquered death. Let us place our hope in Jesus who is the Resurrection and the Life.