The Feast of Christ the King (C)
November 21/22, 1998 (Cathedral)
Part of the charm of the movie Oh, God was that it presented God in a very down-to-earth, reachable way. George Burns played the role of God and appeared, among other guises, as a cab driver and a busboy. In the story line God communicates with supermarket assistant manger Jerry Landers in order to get his simple message to people. His message: "I love you and have given you everything you need. Use it well and respect one another."
Other characters in the story, including Jerry at first, cannot believe that God would appear and talk in such a down to earth, human way. One of the ministers talks about God as "the absolute Being, the all powerful, all knowing, all merciful, infinite Spirit, the Supreme Soul, the King of kings and Lord of lords, the infinite and everlasting eternal Being...” By contrast, God presents himself wearing glasses and as one who makes mistakes. His response: "If I appeared as I am you couldn't understand me. I picked a look you could understand."
Early on in the development of Oh, God Jerry Landers is perplexed by God’s appearances to him and by the message God is giving him. Finally he blurts out: “I don’t understand anything!” God responds: “That’s a beginning.”
Jesus the King brings a whole new way of life that at first is difficult for us to understand. It was difficult for the apostles, too. Remember when Jesus got up from the table at the last supper, picked up a towel and basin, and began to wash his disciples feet? He was trying to teach them about how life is different in his kingdom.
You address me as “Teacher” and “Lord,” and fittingly enough, for that is what I am. But if I washed your feet—I who am Teacher and Lord—then you must wash each other’s feet... As I have done, so you must do.
Jesus the King again and again challenges the ways of the kingdom of the world and teaches us the ways of his kingdom. The kingdom of the world teaches us to take care of number one; the kingdom Jesus teaches us to love God above all and our neighbor as ourselves. The kingdom of the world teaches us to give out of our abundance; the kingdom of Jesus teaches us to give out of our very substance. The kingdom of the world teaches to hang on to our life; the kingdom of Jesus teaches us to lay down our life, to deny ourselves. The kingdom of the world teaches us to avoid pain at all costs; the kingdom of Jesus teaches us to walk in and through pain with him. The kingdom of the world teaches us not to trust others and to provide for ourselves; the kingdom of Jesus teaches us to trust God and our brothers and sisters. The kingdom of the world teaches us that everything ought to feel good; the kingdom of Jesus teaches us to do the Father’s will, even when it does not feel good. The kingdom of the world teaches us to be first, to lord it over others; the kingdom of Jesus teaches us to be last, the servants of all. The kingdom of the world teaches us to accumulate wealth; the kingdom of Jesus teaches us to share our wealth with others.
Gerald Jampolsky is a psychiatrist who has done a great deal of work with dying children. In his book Love Is Letting Go of Fearhe tells of meeting Mother Teresa. They talked of their mutual work with people who were facing death. He said that he “experienced an inner silliness while in her presence”. He continued: “the power of the peace that came from her is difficult to describe.” Dr. Jampolsky learned that Mother Teresa was going to be flying to Mexico City that afternoon and asked if he might join her because he wanted to continue being in her presence. Makes sense, no? At least in the way of the kingdom of the world. But mother Teresa, Dr. Jampolsky explained, smiled gently and said, “Dr. Jampolsky, I would have no objection about your joining me on the trip to Mexico. But you said you wanted to learn about inner peace. I think you would learn more about inner peace if you would find out how much it costs to fly to Mexico City and back, and give that money to the poor.” She was teaching the way of the kingdom of Jesus.
As the movie Oh, God progresses, Jerry Landers is seen more and more by others to be a fool. Often he is perplexed, not knowing how to handle a situation or what it is that God would have him do. But more and more, he learns to trust God, to wait for God, and, as he does this, he becomes more and more peaceful. What he is doing is letting go of the way of the world and learning the way of God, they way of the kingdom of Jesus.
When we celebrate the kingdom of Jesus we do not use the kind of symbols that kings of the world use – gold crowns, swords and scepters, for example. Today we use signs of bread and wine, very simple signs, but powerful none the less. Come now to this table and share in the kingdom of Jesus by sharing the bread and cup he gave us. And be ready to go out from here to lay down your life in service and thus allow Jesus the King to live in our world through each one of us.