Christ the King • Year C

Historical Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, you have crowned your Son as King and, by him, will renew your whole creation. May the families of the earth now torn apart and yoked by sin find liberty in him and be subjected to his gentle rule. Grant this, we pray, through the same Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Roman, 20th Century)

Thematic Collect

Sovereign Lord, at the end of time your eternal reign will be fully revealed and all will stand in awe of your Son Jesus, the King of kings. As we gather in your holy presence, nourish us with Word, bread, and wine that we may go forth making that reign known; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

The Common Thread

As the days shorten into shadows, we are exhorted to be the people who wait for the dawn. For when the light of morning comes, we will discover that God is in our midst. People of faith do not forget his presence, even in dark times. The King may seem to be far distant, but we are to continue in the faith—having faith that he will return and that he is already present. For ours is not only a waiting hope but an existing hope. He is already our refuge and strength and very present help. Those who have faith in Christ will be remembered by the returning King as faithful subjects of his kingdom. Indeed, they will be his very own family—even as they already are. 

First Reading • Malachi 3:13-18

We often hear people say things like: “It isn’t fair,” or “Why did this happen to me?” These are pretty normal human emotions, yet all the same, they are also thinly veiled complaints against the Lord. What difference does it make for me to serve the Lord if bad stuff is going to happen to me anyway? It is the same thing Malachi’s grumblers were saying: “It is futile to serve God” (Mal 3:14 NIV84). Though we do feel this way from time to time, if we are honest, the Lord hears those who continue to believe in him, he listens to, cares for, and saves those who fear, love, and trust him even when life is not going the way they would have wanted. 

Psalm • Psalm 95:1-7

The Lord, again, is depicted as both shepherd and king. We are the sheep of his hand and the people of his pasture—his possession. We are cared for, the shepherd of the sheep being a rock of salvation. God has always cared for his flock, his kingdom. Our proper response is to come into his presence—into the sheep fold—with joy in thanksgiving and worship.

or Psalm 46:1–11

When times are difficult, we must not fear the struggle but instead, continue to fear, love, and trust God. Though the dark night seems unbearably long, God will help “at break of day.” In the dark times, go to the mighty fortress who is our God. Only there in him do we find find that he is a “very present help,” a refuge, and our strength in times of trouble. 

Second Reading • Colossians 1:13-20

Is the creator of all things, he who holds all things together, not able to keep you? God is surely able, and has done it; he has delivered you from the dark realm of death, and emigrated you to his eternal kingdom of light and life. He has reconciled you to himself, having brought you near “by the blood” (Eph 2:13). En is translated as “by,” “through,” or “in,” and is to be read in a special way when used with the dative of means, as it is in Ephesians 2:13. There, en is used with the dative haimati (blood), which is the instrument of God's great accomplishment. But in this case, we are to understand en or “by” as movement beyond or above the earth. We have been transferred to the eternal kingdom “by” means of the blood of Christ. Through the shed blood of the Savior, God does indeed hold all things together, to the extent that even sinners are moved to and kept in his kingdom. 

Gospel • Luke 23:27-43

The tendency, when trouble comes, is to hide or, as Jesus has people saying to the mountains and the hills, “fall on us” and “cover us.” The response of the Christian is much different. When trouble comes, as it always does, the faithful say the same thing—but they say it to Jesus. “Cover us!” Cover us, O blessed Rock (1 Cor 10:4), with the robe of your righteousness, with the garments of salvation (Isa 61:10), and “we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea” (Psa 46:2).