Christ the King: Week 26 of Ordinary Time
Look: Postcard of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro - Source
Listen: All Glory be to Christ. King’s Kaleidoscope - Lyrics | Spotify | YouTube
Read: Daniel 7:9-14; Psalm 93; Revelation 1:1-8; John 18:33-37
Readings for the rest of the week*: Psalm 93; Ezekiel 34:23-31; Daniel 7; John 18: 28-37; Colossians 1:13-23; Revelation 1:1-8
Pray: Book of Common Prayer, Collect for Christ the King Sunday
Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Do: The last Sunday after Pentecost, before the start of a new church year at Advent, is known as “Christ the King Sunday.” We end the liturgical year with a shout of praise to Jesus who rules every square inch of the cosmos and who is even now restoring the world to the glory of its Creator. Worship King Jesus today - for all that has been restored, all that is being restored, and all that will be finally and forever restored.
Bobby Gross introduces this week’s chapter:
“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign forever and ever.” So declares the angel in John’s Revelation (Rev. 11:15). And by faith so declare we. While we Americans don’t relate easily to the idea of a monarchy, the theme of God’s kingly rule pervades the Scriptures, as our texts this week illustrate. This kingdom is not solely a matter of authority, power and majesty but also of justice, righteousness and compassion. The kingdom of God and the rule of Christ stretch from the creation of all things to the consummation of all things. This is a week to contemplate his sovereign glory, pledge afresh our loyalty and renew our longing for the fullness of his reign. Come, Lord Jesus!"
This week, joyfully worship Jesus as your king and renew your allegiance to him in all things.
Related: Advent begins 1 week from today! Starting November 28 and through January 6, you’ll receive a daily Daybook Meditation right here. You’re invited to join us for a virtual Advent retreat on December 2! Register today for $10 off and receive the entire Advent and Christmastide Daybook as a .pdf download.
*During Ordinary Time this year, I’ll be sharing readings from the excellent devotional guide, Living the Christian Year: Time to Inhabit the Story of God by Bobby Gross. While it’s not necessary to purchase the book to follow along with us, it’s an excellent resource we’ve dog-eared so often the pages are falling out of our copy!