The Kitchen Sink
An occasional piece of paper
November 26, 2006
Vol. 9 no. 46

Everything But...
           You wonder where these things come from. Virtually half the year is spent in Pentecost time, so there is a natural desire to conclude this season with a bang, not a fading whimper into Advent. The more liturgical traditions came up with a “Christ the King Sunday” as the last Sunday in Pentecost. It took us a long time, but now United Churches have adopted this theme for the last Sunday. Of course, one must have inclusive language in all things, so the theme is rendered instead the Reign of Christ. I am not sure whether that still leaves Christ being a king or not. Being a King is not as universally popular as it used to be.
           One really good thing about today is that we get to hear part of the Passion story, the trial of Jesus before Pontius Pilate, for which the rest of the year we seem to be too busy to listen to, a conversation all about being King (of the Jews). For many an ancient and modern society being king meant having to use violence at times to keep the kingdom in place. Jesus defines his kingdom as essentially non-violent and that would sound ludicrous and impossible - perhaps like the Prime Minister declaring that his government does not indulge in politics.
           There have been other Kings in our sight during the past few generations. Martin Luther King, Jr., fought for civil rights and social justice for blacks and all people from the same stance of non-violent civil disobedience. There was/is The King (is Rory Allen listening?) of Rock and Roll. Is Elvis’ kingship different? Will it be King Charles some day, or King William or King Harry? None of these are the kind of king that approaches Jesus’ reign. So in this inclusive languaged world, do we need a king at all?