Sermon Christ the King Sunday/Baptism Still Point of the Turning World Blessed be God who animates our lives and offers the gift of His Son. May we recognize Him in our midst! On this the last Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Sunday which has come to be known as Christ the King, gazing with expectation on the season of Advent, we might pause to remember where we have been, where we are and to anticipate where we are going. We pause to consider how ready we might be and what preparations are still needed. We are at a point as mentioned in Samuel, for last words AND we know that often last words have special weight. And yet we know that in God s time and in the Church s seasons of turning, there are never final words, only 1
threshold words to help us process the extraordinariness just below the surface of ordinariness. As well as to invite us to prepare one more time for the first words, THE WORD MADE FLESH WHO CAME TO DWELL AMONG US. In fact, it occurs to me after reading Revelation that not only is Christ the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, but in God s time and space we have come to the Omega about to prepare for the Alpha.again. Christ, however, remains throughout our pauses and hesitations and hesitations. Endings are beginnings and beginnings are endings. Last words are introductions and new words, can be ultimate. This story has no end, at least on this earth, but rather it revolves and spirals, like a Mobius strip. As suggested we are at one of the many Gospel thresholds offered. At a turning point from ordinary time to Advent. From an ending of sorts to a beginning. From the exalted 2
humble moment of Christ as King standing before Pilate and all that inquisition holds, looking toward another divine humble moment the birth of the Christ Child. And for just a moment, lest we forget the hope and revelation in the greatest story, the Pilate part of us, the just the facts ma am part of us, the I have a job to do part of us, the need for certainty not faith part of us, might be tempted to gloss over this moment I caution us to restrain from any light superficial treatment. I invite us to fathom the depth of this moment, the anticipation, the fullness.i invite us to turn toward Christ the King and to be more like Simeon who instantly recognized the Christ, than Pilate who needed certainty instead of holiness. I want pray to be like Simeon who immediately recognized and received the Christ child that we too might be able to say for mine eyes have seen 3
the glory for all the world to see a light to enlighten the nations. Yet I also know I often need earthly cold proof. And I need reminders that our hope comes from the wisdom that one cannot have faith without doubt. We need Pilate. We need to be troubled by false certainty. It is confusing, dizzying really and some have described this moment as like a miasma, a vertigo, a fog of confusion. We need spiritual direction and guidance to hone the depths of these moments we need instructions to find Christ. And while our help comes in the name of the Lord I would like to suggest a story and a metaphor which has helped me find Christ in life. On the occasion of my ordination to the priesthood, I was blessed with many presents (with a ts) and the presence 4
(with a ce) of loved ones. I was immensely grateful and felt humbled by the fullest of cups overflowing. I received touch and smiles and blessings as well as gestures of love and kindness. All of these served then and now to remind me of my call at which love of God and other is central. However, one gift stood out more than others. It was curious and odd. It was unexpected and seemingly ordinary. But from the moment I opened it and read the note I realized I had come to know something extraordinary in the ordinariness. The gift was this compass! (show them) The note said: May this always remind you that you have one job over all others which is to point people to Christ. Today on this Sunday when ordinary time gives way to advent and the coming of something extraordinary, perhaps the most extraordinary event in the history of creation, the 5
grace of this gift and its meaning catch me up short. In my own frenetic life, I too often cling to maps and treatises and directions and plans. I am a little impatient to jump over this day this moment this time as if it is merely transition and get to the nativity. But something causes me to stop to pause to remember who am I? I am formed to be a compass user! Now some of my friends and family might be chuckling as I am now the greatest of campers! And I much prefer the well marked, well trodden not too steep hike. But Christ is calling me to take up my compass and GO! And FOLLOW! Always and everywhere I am reminded of the still point of the turning world. We miss it if we get caught up in the turning part. Our hope is in the name of STILLNESS that we might know God. 6
And so I wonder in the midst of Pilate s inquiry, in the midst of growing confusion, in the midst of knowing that so many are going to miss the KING because he appears too ordinary, not regal and glorified. And then I wonder whether that isn t what we do everyday? Miss the point, the way the life and the truth A compass, due to the magnificent magnetic force of nature always points due north, acts as the physical pointer or guide in physical space. Anyone who has ever been in the dense disorienting fog like those which roll in and out on the coast of Maine knows the fear and panic which can only increase the danger and disproportionately add to the miasma. 7
For me and I hope for you there is a sign, object, prayer, poem or symbol which might act as a compass to lead you out of the darkness into the Light. I suggest that some of those pointers and guideposts are at our fingertips. They point us to Christ and Christ points to them in this reverberating gyrating world. We are a sacramental church. We believe that grace is poured out on us. That Christ is always calling us, beckoning us and that God loves us. And that we mark grace with visible signs to make the invisible joys of faith known. The cross often inscribed King of the Jews, is our compass. We can always come to the foot of the cross and know our Savior. The Bible is our compass. It is the fundamental map written/inscribed as a map toward holiness through salvation history. 8
The Eucharist is our compass pointing to the Body and Blood of Christ and to our salvation. And today we remember especially that Baptism is our compass. We are assured in Baptism of that wellspring of our faith, the eternal source of love and belonging. All of these metaphysical symbolic compasses point us to Christ. All of them offer the directional comfort and guidance we need when we are still and able to pray. As T.S. Eliot writes: At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless; Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is, But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity, Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards, Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point, There would be no dance, and there is only the dance. 9
May you know Christ at this still point, neither King nor infant only, and always King and infant, May your faith and its symbols be as a compass to guide you on this incredible journey to and with Christ. 10