Fr Mike's Message - 11/20/22

The Gospel: ​Luke 23:33-43
When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. The people stood by, watching Jesus on the cross; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

Prayer: Lord, you have promised that when two or three gather in your name you will be present with them. We depend on that promise today and pray that you will move among us. Lord, we pray that you have inspired Mike's preparation, that you will enliven his presentation and that you will empower our application. Amen

The Message: ​So, today is Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday of our Stewardship In-gathering Sunday, and the Sunday before the beginning of Advent. 

I am going to keep my message short this morning because there is so much going on in our service today. So let's get to it.

We are drawing to the end of another period of Ordinary Time so that we can begin a new journey through the weeks of Advent as we prepare for the coming of Christ. 

This is a transition or a hinge Sunday in many ways. It has powerful significance on its own but it also opens up another path in our spiritual journey. 

If we are going to make the progress we need to on this journey we need to understand the centrality of Christ for all the other parts and pieces to make sense. 

Have we stopped recently to think about how remarkable the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was? We have traveled through Ordinary Time and each week we have noted how many Sundays it has been since Pentecost. But, I wonder, have we held on to the wonder of Pentecost itself? Do we recall the dynamic and life-changing experience it was to have the Holy Spirit come and dwell within us? Do we remember what it felt like several months ago waving our Holy Spirit ribbons and Holy Spirit doves and celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit? Or have our senses become dull because it seems so long ago?

Then, when we consider our giving, as part of the Stewardship Focus here at Christ Church this morning, we need to understand who Jesus is. We need to understand his place, and what his authority is in our lives. What has he done for us? Why would we declare him King? When we understand all of that we can approach our giving with an attitude of gratitude and not out of compulsion.

If we can give out of our gratitude, for what we have received, it will change our understanding of how and why we give. If we give out of our abundance rather than from compulsion, or out of fear, it will change how we give. It might even change what we give.

Then as we prepare for the Advent season are we aware of the role of Jesus as the coming King who brings light into the darkness of our world? 

In the midst of the apocalyptic messages, we hear in our Advent readings, as hear about the predictions of the coming King are we preparing room, for Jesus, in our own hearts and spirits?

What light might we need to allow to shine in those dark corners of our lives that we think only we know about? 

How do we acknowledge Christ the King in our lives? What does that mean for our stewardship and as we prepare for the coming of the Christ?

May we hold on to the lyrics of O Come, O Come Emmanuel. I have selected two verses that I believe are relevant to us all:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
 And ransom captive Israel,
 That mourns in lonely exile here,
 Until the Son of God appear.
 Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
 Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Dayspring, from on high,
 And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh;
 Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
 And death's dark shadows put to flight.
 Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
 Shall come to thee, O Israel.