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| Pantocrator,Montreal Cathedral, Sicily |
It was on every email he sent. It was said at every formation where he spoke. “It’s the price you pay for the life you choose.” The company First Sergeant was a good man who believed in the Corps and who believed that choosing a life with the Corps meant you chose a life that would have its fair share of challenges.
What does it mean for the Church to say things like “King of kings” and “Lord of lords”? What does it mean for the Church at the end of every liturgical year to celebrate the Reign of Christ, or Christ the King Sunday?
All of the Gospel writers tell us that when Jesus was crucified that the words “King of the Jews” were inscribed over him, usually shown as a placard over his head. What kind of King meets this kind of end and who would choose to follow such a king? “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.” Spoken by Cersei Lannister to Ned Stark in the first season of The Game of Thrones. The thought seems to summarize how most people view being a successful ruler of people. Successful rulers win the game of thrones; they don’t end up dead.
But we’re presented a crucifixion text for the Reign of Christ and that means that there’s something for us to learn from this text as it relates to this particular day in the liturgical year. Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords; we celebrate the Reign that was inaugurated with his death and resurrection, so what can the Church draw from this to help us become more fully formed as the embodiment of Christ’s reign?
One theologian says, “The ruler of this kingdom does not help himself, but he helps others who need his help (Luke 23:35). Still more: he does not meet evil with evil, but repays evil with good. Indeed, he forgives the people who do not know the evil things they arrange by asking his Father in heaven to forgive them (v. 34).” (Feasting on the Word: Year C, Volume 4: Season after Pentecost 2 (Propers 17-Reign of Christ) (Kindle Locations 12454-12456). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.)
“Jesus spent more time talking about the Kingdom of God than any other topic or issue,” says another pastor. And while we may want to imagine that Kingdom as a future reality that will only come to fruition in the sweet by and by (as if it were a post-dated check), Jesus spoke of the Kingdom as both a present AND a future reality. “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”
So for those of us who would consider ourselves subjects of this Ruler, or citizens of the Reign of God, or followers of this King, our model is One who prays to the Father for the forgiveness of those who have done him harm and who welcomes the justifiably condemned thief into Paradise. These are not easy things to do, but it's the price we pay for the life we choose.
I can’t help but encounter this text with humility because, while we may want to say that the ‘King-ship” of Jesus is demonstrated in his resurrection and exaltation, it is in his crucifixion and death that he is named King. And I believe there is something for me (for all of us) to learn from this.
Jesus is challenged multiple times in this passage to prove that he is the Messiah (God’s chosen one) by saving himself, the crowd and the first thief both say, “Save yourself if you are God’s chosen one, but the thief adds that Jesus also rescue him from his demise.” So the proof of Jesus’ Messianic role is not in his stopping of his own death, but in his embracing it.
For followers of this Messiah, then, we have a few marks to emulate: forgiving those who have or would do us harm; embracing a path that may not lead to exaltation; and welcoming the obviously “unworthy” into God’s reign. It's not an easy way to follow, but it's the price we pay for the life we choose.
It is interesting that somehow the second thief recognized the Messianic nature of Jesus in his humiliation and death and maybe that’s what the world needs today from people of faith.
“Somehow he has found the hermeneutical lens that permits him to recognize salvation that intrudes into the absolutely hopeless moment where no one is saved from suffering and death, which is also exactly the moment when salvation breaks through.” (Feasting on the Word: Year C, Volume 4: Season after Pentecost 2 (Propers 17-Reign of Christ) (Kindle Locations 12604-12605). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.)
As followers of this Messiah, as a people who claim Jesus as Lord, where are the places where we allow salvation to intrude into the “hopeless moments” of others? It seems that the world is ripe for moments where God’s Realm can interrupt the tide of hopelessness and despair with real and holy presence.
So often I hear or read on social media, statements of frustration or sorrow or pain. I hear stories of heart ache and heart break from people who wander into my office. And something I frequently hear from these people is that they don’t want “If God brings you to it, he’ll bring you through it” statements said.
What people want to hear is that their pain, their fear, their sorrow is real and valid in the moment, AND that they are not alone. That they have not been forsaken or abandoned and would someone please, demonstrate it by sitting with me in my sorrow.
Jesus says to the thief, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.” Today, God’s reign is real. In this moment, God is fully present with you. In this moment you are remembered. In this moment you are beloved.
May we choose to follow, follow in faith in the same valley places that our Lord has walked.
Amen.
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