Devotion - Monday, November 24

The year is almost over.  While this is true with regard to the academic calendar, and the football season, and even the countdown to 2015 - I am speaking of the Liturgical Year.  Yesterday was Christ the King Sunday - the last Sunday of the Church Year.

All of the events of Jesus' life have been recapped during the previous 51 weeks.  All of the sayings and healings and parables have been reviewed.  The final Sunday of the year is devoted to the question, "What does all this mean for you?"  There exists the opportunity to respond by affirming Christ as King.

The sermon I preached yesterday addressed the nature of this Kingship.  It is not one of force or domination.  The Kingship of Christ is one in which the "least among us" is seen, acknowledged, and attended to.  This is the Kingdom over which Christ reigns.

One final description of that Kingdom asks us whether we are prepared to affirm Christ as our King, whether we are ready to become loyal subjects in the Kingdom where self-sacrifice is the way.

As you bring your semester to a close and as you find yourself being sucked into the vortex of secular Christmas observances - take a moment to answer the question for yourself, and to commit yourself to the King and the Kingdom in which care and compassion and gentleness and graciousness are the defining traits.