Who is the King of glory? Psalm 24:8

Christ the King, Year C

The Reign of Christ is observed on the last sabbath after Pentecost and on the sabbath before Advent. The Episcopal Church scheduled this feast for us to consider, “who is the King of glory?” Psalm 24:8 Who is Christ? What is Christ doing? Where does Christ show up? On Pentecost, the disciples receive an assignment to spread the good news of God in Jesus Christ beginning in Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. On this day we take stock of what we learn from knowing Christ and making Christ known beginning in Sag Harbor and beyond Westhampton. Before preparing for Christmas, the Reign of Christ pushes the pause button. We pause to consider the significance of the Incarnation.

O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray! Cast out our sin and enter in, Be born to us today. 1982 Hymnal 79

Whether you are more like the hard working shepherds watching over their flocks by night or you are like the wise kings following the star, the Reign of Christ bids us to discern how Christ is born in us and born by us into the world?

Psalm 24 asks,

Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. So (sic) lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, let (sic) the King of glory may come in. Psalm 24:8-9

Christos is the Greek word for the anointed one. Messiah is the Hebrew word for the anointed one. Both the Hebrew and Greek (Old and New) Testament write about the one anointed by God. The Hebrew Scripture contains many predictions about the messiah and a variety of depictions. In the lesson from Jeremiah read today the anointed one is both shepherd and king. The shepherd

…gathers the remnant of the flock out of all the lands where they were driven, and brings them back to their fold, were they shall be fruitful and multiply. Jeremiah 23:3

The messiah king is also a descendent of Israel’s royalty.

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. Jeremiah 23:5

Elsewhere Hebrew Scriptures envision the anointed one as prophet or priest.

Gospel and Epistle descriptions of Jesus align those found in the Hebrew Scripture. Paul refers to Jesus as a priest. Jesus was

…fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, to make atonement for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus refers to himself a shepherd. Jesus, quoting from Zachariah 13:7, warned

You will all fall away…for it is written: “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” Mark 14:27

In today’s reading from Paul’s letter to the Colossians, he refers to visions found in the Book of Daniel. The messiah or Christ, is the son of man. Son of man, is a title for God. Paul wrote, Jesus is the son of man in whom “…all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” Colossians 1:19 Who is the King of glory for you? How is the Reign of Christ manifest in you and others? Where is Christ showing up in the world? In order to recognize the presence and actions of Christ, we need to look. It is impossible to find something if we aren’t even searching! Searching is the first and most important step in discerning who Christ is, what Christ is doing, and where Christ is manifest.

When engaged in a search process, it helps to have a plan. Aimless hunting rarely results in meaningful discovery. Benjamin Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” In our efforts to know Christ and make Christ known, we must commit to looking and, thereafter, craft a plan for how we will search.

I use a variety of strategies to know Christ and make Christ known. Some I have used for many years, like meeting with a spiritual director (who is also my therapist) and participating in a peer supervision group. Others, like journaling, I stopped because it was incompatible with caring for elderly relatives and parenting. Reading and reflecting on the Bible are indispensable to my search for Christ. I read, study, and reflect on the Bible passages assigned for the coming sabbath throughout the week. The references for these passages are in the bulletin announcements. If studying the Bible on your own is daunting, join a Bible study group. Every Thursday at 7:00pm 6 to 10 people log into Zoom for the Christ Church Bible study. Listening to music also helps me discern who Jesus is and how to serve Jesus. I am a musical omnivore; I like and listen to various types of music. I listen for who Christ is in classical music: Bach’s St. Matthew’s Passion is a favorite. I also listen for what Christ is doing in contemporary Christian music by Casting Cross and Kirk Franklin.

Are you on the look out for Christ? Jesus said, “Seek and you will find; knock and the door will be open to you.” Matthew 7:7 Are you knock, knocking on heaven’s door? What plans can you put in place to find and be found by Christ? How, when, and where have you encountered Christ? As you endeavor to love and serve the Lord, remember the words of Jeremiah:

God will raise up a shepherd who will shepherd them, and they shall no longer fear or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing. Jeremiah 23:4

Christ is searching and will recover everyone. So, brothers and sisters in faith

Lift up your heads, you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, let the King of glory come in. Psalm 24:9