The King Enthroned: A Homily on Christ the King

John 18:33-37

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Growing up in the United States, we have been indoctrinated to reject the idea of kings and queens and royal families. My generation grew up with a series of Saturday morning cartoon shorts called “School House Rock.” One of those episodes, which I admit to enjoying as a child, was entitled “No More Kings,” which summarized American history from the Pilgrims to the Revolution. While entertaining and memorable, it definitely had a purpose of propaganda, teaching that democracy was the only legitimate possibility for our land, and that having a king was

ridiculous, if not oppressive and evil in having his authority.

People often despise those in authority over them, and when they did not choose those in authority, the disdain is even worse. We can be like this with God. Christ is our King. We don’t always appreciate His authority and dominion over us. We want to be our own kings or queens. We want control. We want independence. We are rebels. And that is not good.

Turn from your ways, you rebels! Repent of rejecting your true King. You don’t even have the excuse of the apostle’s generation, who may not have recognized Jesus Christ as King, because He did not look like a king.

Pastor David Tannahill is a friend who was born and raised in Canada. Once in his childhood in the 1960’s, Queen Elizabeth II came to his hometown and Pastor’s mother wanted to be sure he got to see her. They went to the event, and since the queen is not very tall, Mrs. Tannahill lifted her little boy so he could see above the crowd. “Can you see the Queen?” she asked. “No,” he sadly replied.

That evening, they watched the news. “There!” said Mrs. Tannahill, “Didn’t you see the

Queen?” she said, pointing to a lady on the television who had a simple spring dress, a pill box hat, and handbag. “Well yeah, I saw her!” he said,… “That’s the queen?”

The portraits in his school, and other pictures he had seen diplayed the Queen in her regal robes, with crown and scepter, opening parliament, or posing for formal occasions. Amazing pictures and film footage display the glory and beauty of her coronation, with regal ceremony and splendid trappings as she ascended to her throne. But this woman simply looked like someone’s mother! A regular person. Seeing her in person was not what he expected. She did not look powerful or regal or queenly.

Jesus did not appear regal or kingly. In fact, He did not even appear regal or kingly when He was lifted up on His throne! He looked like a wretched and humiliated criminal! Stripped, beaten and whipped mercilessly, the King of the Jews was nailed to His cross. To the naked eye, it seemed like a miserable defeat.

But our Lord loves paradox. Instead of defeat, the execution on that cross played right into God’s hand, becoming His victory over sin, death, and hell! As others scoffed and mocked the Man hanging underneath the sign that read: “The King of the Jews,” the reality was that

Christ was indeed being coroneted. Instead of gold and jewels, piercing thorns served as His crown. In the place of silks and ermine fur to line His royal robes, stripes of blood covered His sacred body. Rather than a splendid chair of gold, a rough, wooden cross was the throne He ascended, and thus the location of the unlikely ceremony.

These sorts of paradox are difficult for the world to grasp. And they are not easy for you or me, either. We see Christ’s body on the cross and we become uncomfortable and uneasy. We often slip into feeling like we’d rather not see it, because it reminds us of our sin and what it took to redeem us. We actually end up finding the image of the crucifix as a turn-off! At those times, are we not shunning the One Crucified? Are we not just like the crowds around who did not want to see Him there – the ones who mocked and wagged their heads at Him?

Repent! The devil and the world have swayed you to believe those lies, and you must stand firm against them. Repent of fearing, or despising, or avoiding the Crucified Jesus – the King.

The Gospel is that Jesus died for you! It’s a good thing! He lovingly and willingly was enthroned on that cross as He purchased and won your salvation. He suffered to gain that

victory over sin, death, and the devil at His coronation on the cross. And He gives us the gift of crucifixes to display the full beauty and splendor of the greatest and truest moment of “God’s Love in Action!”

Our precious Savior who indeed was “God’s Love in Action” on the cross stretches out His arms, pierced with those holy wounds, and embraces you with His Gospel. He gives His royal proclamation that on account of His royal blood, given and shed for you, you are not only “not guilty,” but an heir and member of His royal family! And the King’s Word does what He says.

From His throne He decrees, “It is finished.” And it is so! His work for your forgiveness and

salvation is accomplished, and can never be taken away by any enemy of His kingdom. As our friends in the Roman Church sing: “Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again!” This is most certainly true. No one can undo the work of Christ our King.

The pierced side of our triumphant King spills forth water into the cleansing font. Life-giving

blood pours forth from His wounds, and into the precious and sacred cup from which you drink. His Royal Majesty Himself serves you, cleansing you inside and out, and nourishing you to life everlasting.

Now, He has assumed a new throne. He sits on the throne of this altar. In a few moments, there Christ Jesus will sit, in the flesh. Our Lord and God and King coming among His people and giving His Gifts.

So come, dear friends in Christ. Come to Our Lord’s throne. Join Him in His banquet hall as He celebrates His feast of victory with His royal family. Dine at this regal feast as you receive your Coming King! And by our good and gracious King actually entering you, you receive the forgiveness, life and salvation that He brings. You actually eat salvation! For in this meal, He transforms you from a beggarly peasant into a child of God – a prince or princess of heaven! Rejoice, for you are no longer slaves, but you are royal highnesses in His kingdom!

Who's the Leader of the Club...?

Mickey Mouse turns 81 today. "Steamboat Willie" was released in theaters as a cartoon "short" on this day in 1928.

Word-full Wednesday: A Homily on Mk. 13:1-13

Mark 13:1-13

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

We live in a dangerous world. It is perfectly legal to kill anyone, so long as the smallest

portion of them still remains inside their mother. Some even support the idea that infants who are accidentally born during such gruesome procedures can be left alone to die without medical aid or comfort. For those who are ill over a long term, even when they are not

dying, as was the case with Terri Schiavo, it has become legally acceptable to starve them to death. Why? They are viewed as burdens to others. In Missouri, it is permissible to use tax dollars for pre-born people to be legally manufactured in the laboratory, and then kill them if and when their cells are no longer useful. Mohammedan terrorists plot evil around the world, even infiltrating our army and gunning down people on our own military bases. And yet, as horrifying as such things are, these are not as serious as the danger of which Jesus warns.

And Jesus began to say to them, "See that no one leads you astray. Many will come in My name, saying, 'I am he!' and they will lead many astray. So many people surround us in this world who have no faith in Christ. And among them are those who would gladly lead you

astray, dear friends in Christ. They want your faith, your loyalty, your support, and your wallet.

Jesus tells us this morning that it will be worse as the end approaches. Now, two ends loom in this reading from Saint Mark: the destruction of Jerusalem, just 40 years after Jesus prophesied this, and the end of this earth, whenever that day shall come.

"But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them…And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Jesus tells of the coming persecution. He would be tried and tortured and even killed. These apostles could expect much of the same. This persecution is a sign of things to come. It would begin right away, and continue throughout history, but will be intense before Jesus comes again. Others hate the Church. But Jesus says: “Don’t worry. They hate Me more! I will endure this with and for you!”

And who are these dangers that Jesus warns us about? Right now we are not in danger of being beaten or killed for the Gospel’s sake. But we are in danger from the others of whom Jesus speaks: “Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I AM he!” I AM. Jesus here warns of imposters who will try to convince others that they are the Christ—that they are the Lord God I AM! Wicked deceivers who want your admiration, your allegiance, your riches, all the

while claiming to be the Lord! In those early days of the New Testament Church until now – and until He returns in glory, we stand in danger of such imposters.

Are you ready to start following any guy who comes up and claims to be Christ? Doubtful. Hopefully you have learned enough over the years that you realize Jesus will not return quietly or secretly.

But there is a related danger. You could fall prey to false teachers – men or women who speak a message that departs from our Lord’s Word. Church bodies that deny the Holy Spirit’s miraculous work in and through the earthly elements of the Sacraments, joined to God’s Word. Those who say that forgiveness and salvation only signify or accompany Baptism and the Holy Supper, rather than the Lord using them as His means of bringing and delivering His grace.

Sadly, it is not always easy to spot such false teachers. Many are eloquent preachers. Some have large followings. Others use excitement and emotion, like the Pied Piper or Professor Harold Hill, and sway the worshipers, manipulating their audience to follow them. Some spread their message on television, internet, and radio. The danger is, they often begin with God’s Word and manipulate it to fit their own agenda. They end up being very difficult to notice and realize the heresy.

Such preachers and churches who raise their own word and reason above Christ’s are to be

marked and avoided. They are not proclaiming Jesus’ Gospel. They are speaking a different message from any number of sources claiming: “I AM he.”

Besides their sin of leading many astray, you are in danger of falling into sin by rejecting God’s Word and holding to their falsehoods. When you even begin to doubt the plain truth of God’s Word, whether preached, taught, or in His Holy Sacraments, you stray from Jesus and His teaching. You distance yourself from the Lord and listen to these imposters who say, “I AM he.”

Stop, dear friends in Christ! Flee from those who would deceive you. Do not remain easy targets and let their mouths fill your ears with deception. Do not sit mindlessly and absorb the propaganda from those who work against the Truth of God. Turn the channel. Change your website. Do whatever it takes to avoid those who teach against and instead of Christ!

Afraid you cannot do that? I know you can’t – at least not completely. And that is why our dear Savior preaches to us this morning. He warns us ahead of time about those who would deceive us and endanger us. But He also delivers us from evil. Jesus is the one and only true Christ. He IS I AM! The Lord is come in the flesh and has purchased and won forgiveness, life and salvation. He has redeemed you. And He did not leave it as a historical event that is unattached to you.

The one and only Christ has Christened you! He has marked you as anointed into Christ at your Baptism. Your Old Adam is dead and buried in Baptism, Our Lord has now raised you up as a New Creature, with Himself. As His New Creature, your eyes and ears are fixed on Jesus, and not on any false Christs or false teachers.

You have the joy of a Savior – our one and only true Savior – who removes you from the dangers of false teachers and imposters. He rescues you from death and the devil, those enemies who desire to sway you. He forgives you constantly, and preserves you in His mercy and grace through His Gifts that He gives in His Holy Church. He gathers you from their lies and deceptions, and protects you, His lambs, safe in His fold.

“But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” More Good News: even though you cannot endure, Christ has endured for you. He has been beaten for you. He has stood trial for you. He spares you from the horrors He endured, so that you may have a joy-filled and blessed eternity! He has called you to faith through the work of the Holy Spirit and preserves you in Him. He keeps you steadfast in His Word and continually bathes you in your baptized state. He repeatedly nourishes you with His Holy Body and Blood. He keeps you, body and soul, so that you endure to the end. He saves you! Amen.

Yoda & Jar Jar or Abbot & Costello

Wordless Wednesday: 3 Months Later--Still Gleeful to be "Put"

Glee: Good, Gracious, or Ghastly?

The theme is a common one from literature and television: take a rag-tag bunch of misfits, bring them together, and when working together, the greatest of odds can be overcome. This is at the heart of Glee, running its first season on Fox, Wednesdays at 9 PM EST.

There are a number of roles and situations on Glee that the Christian would find troubling. Of course, every human is sinful, and we will not look at every single character. Still, it’s a good thing to look at a few examples.

Kurt Hummel is a sweet boy. He is a loyal friend. He has a good voice. He loves fashion. And he has a bit of a crush on star quarterback Finn Hudson. Yes, Kurt is a stereotypical, flamboyant homosexual.

Sue Sylvester is downright mean. This cheerleading coach is the embodiment of evil, cunningly cutting down kids’ egos, manipulating and destroying what she sees fit, literally pushing people down stairs, and trying to sabotage the Glee Club.

Noah "Puck" Puckerman has fathered the pre-born child of Quinn Fabray, cheerleader and president of the celibacy club. Quinn is also the girlfriend of Finn Hudson, and has convinced him that although they have not had sexual relations, he is the father.

But perhaps the most disturbing scenario of the entire series (and yet the one we are drawn to accept and enjoy) is the relationship of Will Schuester and Emma Pilsbury. Will and Emma were high school friends at the same school where he now teaches and she is guidance counselor. Will is now in a very unhappy marriage, in which his wife, Terri, is completely self-absorbed—to the point it is plainly idolatry. She shows no care or concern for him, is extremely demanding and manipulative, and has led them to the brink of financial ruin.

Viewers are not supposed to like Terri at all. Conversely, Emma is quirky, but as nice and sweet as can be, and you end up wanting Will and Emma to get together! Will and Emma both show care for people, and put others ahead of themselves.

Those of us who are committed to what the Lord teaches about the sanctity of Holy Marriage can be easily led down this (albeit fictitious) path of approving their repressed romance. Granted, Will and Emma have not gotten to the point of sexual infidelity – or have they? Tension-filled hugs and staring into one another’s eyes might not be “going all the way,” but there certainly is desire that transgresses the 6th commandment.

On the other hand, in spite of all these troubles, is there anything worth noting? I would suggest there is.

Glee is full of love and friendship. Students that didn’t find a niche in the school have

become a group of loyal friends, truly caring for one another. When others fail them, the Glee kids come to realize that these new friends have accepted them, “no strings attached.”

Glee shows forgiveness. Yes, I realize it is not flowing from Christ through His Gifts, but the Glee students, along with Will and his friends, demonstrate a human forgiveness and an allowing of new beginnings for each other. Quinn is shunned by her cheerleader “friends” when they discover she is pregnant. She is also kicked off the squad. But the Glee friends voice their care for her. And when Finn has been pressured by the football team to back off from Glee and even torment them, Kurt takes a slushy out of Finn’s hand and tosses it on himself. Kurt “took one for the [Glee] team,” so the quarterback did not have the guilt of doing this to a friend, yet he could maintain a “cool” reputation on the football team. When all is said and done, Finn is welcomed back to Glee.

So where does that leave you, the Christian viewer? How should you feel about Glee? I propose that the answer is similar to how you should feel about the people in your real life – the students and faculty of your own school, the friends in your own circles, even the people in the pews of your church.

Every one of us is a poor, miserable sinner. This does not excuse our actions or words or thoughts in the least. However, we live in a recognition that in faith we will not approve of every behavior, every day.

Yes, Glee has some sinful characters and sinful scenarios. Still, there are moments of (humanly speaking) goodness, kindness, and friendship. Being familiar with a show like Glee that so many are watching, may provide opportunities for you to engage in discussions that would otherwise be unavailable. Perhaps the Lord might end up using you to be His witness, speaking the truth in love. He may lead you to show what was good and supportive of the faith in a given episode, and what was not.

In the end, you already know the one and only Source of your Glee: Jesus Christ! Our Savior has taken on human flesh and was born, announced with the Glee of singing angels. At His Baptism, the Father announced from heaven His Glee in His Son, in whom He is well pleased. With Jesus’ triumph on the cross and His joyous resurrection, God demonstrated His Glee once again, in the ultimate, first Easter.

Jesus is the greatest, truest, and everlasting Glee for His Church! Living in Him, we await the Day when our Glee will be complete, and He gathers us all into the eternal kingdom He has GIVEN.

[This post was produced for HigherThings.org, and can be viewed also here.]

Is Jesus Asking for My Money? -- Mk. 12:38-44

Mark 12:38-44

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Oh, no! Today we are presented with a Gospel lesson in which Jesus uses money as an example. It’s times like this when a number of people can

walk away from church muttering: “That’s all he ever talks about – money!” (Now, it is not the pastor who chooses the readings, that is a schedule made up by the church at large, set for many years – so it is a safeguard from anyone’s personal agenda.

But is it even fair to say this of our Lord? Is money the main point of Jesus’ words here?

This is not a parable; it is our Lord commenting on a real woman, a real widow, placing her real money – her real offering – in the temple. But is the money what Jesus wants our focus on?

What was going on? Our Lord is sitting there, in a place where you could see people coming and going in the temple, with an offering box nearby. Many people came through.

Lots of wealthy people would pass by a drop great amounts. Large donations for the work of the Lord. Is that bad? Of course not! Christ is not saying that this money was no good for God’s kingdom. Indeed, God used it well.

But then comes a poor widow. And she is the poorest of the poor. The widow gives the last two coins that she had to her name, and even they barely added up to a portion of a penny.

Jesus simply states that for all the great amounts that the wealthy had given, this woman had given the greatest treasure. The others gave out of much. She had poverty – and gave everything she had on this earth.

Many would come in the temple courts and have their tithe, ten percent of their wealth, perhaps even calculating what they needed to give, down to the penny. Then the widow enters, and does not give a tithe. No. She is free in the Gospel, not bound to the Old Testament rule of 10%. So she gives 100% of her so-called wealth to God.

Jesus commends her to our consideration. She did not give as the Law required. She went beyond that, giving out of loving thanks for the Gospel. It was rejoicing in God’s blessing, and trusting that He would have mercy, that she gave it all.

But again, is this about money? Yes and no. Money is only a part of understanding. The widow perceives what this earthly life is: entirely gift! Everything is a gift from our gracious Father in heaven. Our finances, yes, but so much more!

Your body and health are gifts from the Great Physician. Your mind and mental ability are gifts from Him. Your clothing and housing – gifts from the Lord. Sight, hearing, and communication – gifts from God. Friends and family are treasures from our heavenly Father. The ability even to breathe and have a heart pumping – gift.

So what do we have or possess that is not a gift from God? Absolutely nothing!

Jesus makes appoint of directing His disciples attention to the widow, but not for a lesson in

banking or financial planning. He praises her living out her faith. The Holy Spirit has led her to recognize that absolutely everything is a gift from God, and that He will not neglect her. She trusts He will provide and send what she needs. So she responds in giving back to God what is His to begin with: everything! Why? Because it was never hers to begin with!

How are you doing at recognizing that you own nothing? That everything belongs to the Lord and you are simply a manager? How easy is it for you to recognize that even your time is not your own? Your abilities and talents belong to God as well.

When you are begrudging the time you are giving to the Lord in His church and school, you are arguing with the Lord. When you say you don’t want to be bothered, or complain that “they always want my help,” you actually are despising the gifts the Lord gives. In fact, you are not simply hoarding your own time, or abilities, or possessions – you are cheating. You

have taken these things that belong to God and refuse to let Him use them!

Repent! Repent of selfishness. Repent of hoarding what is not yours to begin with. Repent of refusing to aid others with your gifts. Repent of denying the Giver the chance to use you in His giving.

Our precious Savior comes with His solution. The Holy Spirit does bring you to repent, and converts you once again to faith in the Lord. He brought rescue and redemption on the cross, and now He delivers it to you.

Jesus dwells in each of His baptized, and He uses you to give His gifts. He uses pastors to give His Holy Gifts of Gospel and Sacraments. And He uses you to give the daily bread He places in your lives. As He blesses you with more than you need, He provides opportunities to extend those gifts to those you know and meet. He gives you chances every day to share your time with friends and others that will benefit from you. He provides you with mental abilities and reasoning to benefit not only you and your family, but your neighbors, your fellow citizens, your church.

Our loving and providing God comes to you each week, forgiving, feeding, and forming you to give what He gives you. Our Father gives daily bread even beyond the ultimate and highest daily bread—the Bread of Life in the Eucharist, He uses every one of you to touch other lives in aiding their earthly needs.

Our compassionate Christ looks upon you as He did this poor widow, commending you and blessing you with the generosity of sharing yourselves and the sum total of all that you have or are.

So is Jesus asking you for your money today? No. He doesn’t have to – because there is no such thing as “your money.” It is His to begin with. Nor is He asking for your time or abilities. He is not asking for any of it. He knows that as He builds up your faith, and as He nourishes and sustains you, you will respond in love and thanks, giving back what He has given you. And He who has made you stewards of His gifts will keep on giving and using you until He returns again in glory, when the Giver gives the gift of resurrection and eternal life with Him.