Twenty-First Century People rarely speak of kingdoms, at least in the present tense. Our recent trip to Central Europe yielded thousands of statues of nobility–all dead. Who has “Kings” anymore? But what does rule your life? To what systems belong your allegiances? And how do we live with ourselves while living within these mortal systems, although offering vassalage to God? The Christian Year is completed with Reign of Christ Sunday: dare I walk hopefully through these fearful times?
Jeremiah, speaking about 600 BC, condemned the last kings of Judah for neglecting the people and pilfering their wealth for themselves. But “the days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.” (23:5) So many aspects of our culture seem out of control–homelessness, racism and fear of the stranger cloud our national image. What if the King has been here all the time, but we’ve forgotten the way to the throne? Our hopeful trail of breadcrumbs has been gobbled by vultures of selfish materialism, and we tremble in the shadow of the Forest. Hearers of this text may ask, “What little power have I? And in whose interest do I use it?”
The author of the Letter to the Colossians writes, “[God] has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son…” (1:13) The Greek is “methistemi”, the ancient practice of the conquering general/emperor to carry off the populace of the vanquished area. The image is that of a Supreme Ruler who pulls out the perishing to a new land…whether or not they knew themselves as previously enslaved. It is we ourselves who give power to darkness through our own fear and insecurity. Specters and demons turn to dust in the Light of Christ.
And so the “Good Thief” hopefully prayed, “Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42) The unfolding Kingdom of God rescues us common folk, announcing that we are no longer forgotten. Minions of materialism live in ordinary time, but the Good Thief lives already in the Reign of Christ. “…the ruler of the kingdom of God is already with you, in your life and in your dying, and with you even in damnation by sin. Indeed, he close to you even in your distance from God.” (Eberhard Busch, U. of Gottenburg, in FEASTING on the WORD, C 4:336)
The prim and overdressed matron was standing in the rowboat, trying to get onto the dock. With one foot on the pier and the other in the boat, whatever would happen next was probably wrong. Who was the Unknown Hero who grabbed her elbow and pulled her safely ashore, thus retaining her dryness and acerbity?
God Bless Us, Every One… Horace Brown King
My thoughts about scripture lessons for the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this spot on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com
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