Last Sunday of the Church Year, Proper 29

A Kingdom of Hearts

Pilate cannot really understand what kind of kingdom Jesus has. We may also misunderstand if we do not think with the mind of Christ, for Christ’s kingdom is not like the kingdoms of the earth.

Pilate was a man of violence from the army of an empire of violence. How was he to understand this king standing before Him?

Pilate’s serves a kingdom of swords and clubs.

We may likewise miss the mark if we think that Jesus’ establishes his kingdom from wealth and for wealth. They serve Mammon who make themselves part of a kingdom of gold and diamonds.

There are some who better understand Christ’s kingdom and yet reject it; they prefer power and evil. They view Christ’s love as weakness. All who hate God love death, so they exult to dig their own graves in the kingdom of spades.

We will worship and serve a king whose self-sacrificial love has shown us to seek the good of others, instead of self – to empty ourselves of pride, avarice, and wrath. We do not pour energy into the lust for power. We do not greedily lust for mammon. We put away all malice and clamor and strive, turning away from anger and violence.

Our clothing is love in the kingdom of hearts.