Christ the King

Readings: Jeremiah 23v1-6; Psalm 46; Colossians 1v11-20; Luke 23v33-43.

Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.

A Word: Jeremiah warns that God is displeased with bad shepherds and will deal with them. This is a warning to every shepherd of God’s people who destroys, scatters or drives away God’s people. For God has a plan. A plan to gather his people back into his field with shepherds who will take good care of them. For with good care, God’s people will become a body where no-one is missing and everyone will become fruitful and multiply. A people who are no longer wounded by their shepherds and able to shed their worries. For God was promising to send a wise King into the world to save his people and then reign over them with justice and righteousness.

In the psalm we hear that God is there for his people in all times of trouble. For God is steadfast and sure, helping his people as they face terrible things. For God is doing incredible things and will be praised, even as the people of the earth defy God.

In Colossians, God’s people are told to be strong and patient in the face of adversity because they will share in the inheritance of the saints. For God has rescued his people from the evil powers at work in the world and transformed them. A people who are forgiven because they are saved by God’s son. A people saved by the son who is the image of God. The son who is God’s first born, the son who helped God at the time of creation. The son who brought peace and reconciliation between heaven and earth. The son who is the head of the Church, the head of God’s people, the one we know as Jesus the Christ.

The same son who we hear about in Luke. The son who asked his father to forgive the people who crucified him, who forgave all those who were tortured, mocked, scoffed at and killed him. The son who promised not just to remember the criminal who knew he was a sinner, but promised that this repentant sinner would join him in Paradise.

Let us Pray: Eternal Father, we give you thanks for Jesus your son. We pray that Jesus will rule here in this Church as Lord and King. We pray that this Church will work in unity and peace so that others will be gathered into this body as a people of worship and faith. We pray that this church will continue to be welcoming and do good works in this Parish of St Matthew with St Chad. We pray for faithful lay and ordained leaders who will fulfil your will in this community. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen

Thanks for joining us today.