Christ the King or Reign of Christ, Proper 29 - Year C

Jason Schafer

After Pentecost • Sermon • Submitted 2 months ago • Presented 2 months ago

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Welcome Statement

Good Morning church. The liturgical calendar that many denominations follow, has placed us into a day of celebration and reflection that is called Christ the King or Reign of Christ Sunday. If you recall all of the prophets we have heard from the past few weeks, crying out for justice, for the needy, the poor, the downtrodden, crying out for God’s salvation. There is a theological reason the readings were ordered this way. Today, we are going to hear again from Jeremiah, he notes how the latest in the line of the Shepherds of Israel, ie, the kings, have failed her people. Jeremiah points out there will be a new shepherd to make all things new.

Old Testament Reading - Jeremiah 23:1-6

Jeremiah 23:1–6 NRSV

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord. 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. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”

Woe to Destructive Shepherds

There is an irony in the beginning of this reading, as it describes shepherds who are destructive, not constructive, in how they operate. They destroy, pillage, and take things that aren’t there’s, they ignore the lost sheep of Israel in that regard. They forget about the promises of Abraham, that they would be a blessing among the nations. The forget the call of the law in leviticus, to pickup the poor, the downtrodden, those who have lost.

I Will Raise A Righteous Branch

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The Lord is Our Righteousness

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New Testament Reading - Luke 23:33-43

Luke 23:33–43 NRSV

When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”