November letter to the parish

Posted on by stmaggiep

If I had to pick a favourite Sunday celebration, it would have to be the last one of the church year, which is Christ the King. I love the whole pre advents season with the dramatic build up from All Saints and All Souls to Christ the King at the end, it really is a journey.

We start with All Saints on the first of November. This is the day when we remember, not only those great biblical saints but also the ordinary people who did extraordinary things, especially those early saints who were willing to give their lives for Jesus and his message, personal heroes would be Perpetua and Felicity but there are many others! Then All Souls when we remember all those who have died, especially praying for those people we knew and loved personally. Then finally you have the image of Jesus crowned as king, enthroned in heaven with the saints serving him and caring for those in his kingdom.

This is a heavenly image but can we embrace Jesus’ Kingship while on earth or is it just a heavenly kingdom for those who have already passed on? We have our own king, King Charles, and to be realistic, it is technically treason to declare another monarch other than him, a crime that used to lead to a sentence of a not very pleasant death (if you like looking back at your history as much as I enjoy doing). Now of course that isn’t going to happen here mainly as this is a Christian country and our king is a Christian himself but it’s worth remembering. We must not forget our many siblings in Christ around the world are persecuted, imprisoned and killed for their faith. A new generation of martyrs who we remember on All Saints Day with many other great names.

Jesus was asked about his kingdom by Pilate and this is what he says ‘My Kingdom is not of this world, for this I was born and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth.’

That’s what this season of pre advent is, remembering the journey to Jesus Kingdom where we will join him, the saints and those we love who have died. Jesus has given us the promise of his Kingdom that is to come. You see it in the Book of Revelation chapters 4 and 5, in the heavily throne room where the antient one is seated and the saints are the attendants. There is only one person who is worth to approach the throne, the sacrificed bleeding lamb there to plead the case for humanity. Jesus came to earth to bear witness and allow humanity it’s place in the kingdom revealed in Revelation 21 and 22, the new Jerusalem, the second Eden, he promised all who believe in and follow him, the Good News.

So is Jesus kingdom on earth? Of course it is, while there are people who follow Jesus, his teaching and model themselves on the way he lived his kingdom is visible on earth. We keep proclaiming the Good News, for him as our king, and look forward to the day when we will be called home to be with those we love under his eternal kingship.

Rev Helen

If you would like to looking into this further:

 

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