23/11/2024
Today, as we celebrate the feast of Christ the King, I hope my sermon helps connect the message of this Anglican feast with the work we are doing Friday Night Ecumenical Free Meal ministry. Christâs kingship is about unity, self-giving love, and transforming the darkness of the world through acts of kindness and forgiveness.
You can read the full sermon below, where I explore how Christ unites us, conquers darkness, and calls us to reflect his love in our daily lives. May it inspire us all to live under Christâs kingship and carry his light into the world.
At St Johnâs Anglican Church, Salisbury, in collaboration with the Uniting Church Salisbury, Hope Central Salisbury Park, and Gateway Church Salisbury East, we gather every Friday night to serve our community through a free meal ministry.
This space is much more than just a mealâitâs a place of welcome, connection, and love, reflecting the heart of our shared mission.
Sermon: Christ the King by Fr Peter Jin, Nov 24, 2024
Today, we celebrate the feast of Christ the King, the final Sunday of the liturgical year. It is a moment to reflect on who Christ is as our King and what his kingship means for the world and for us personally. This morning, weâll explore three aspects of Christâs kingship: his role as the unifier of all creation, his victory as the warrior King, and the surprising way he rulesâthrough love and sacrifice.
Christ as the Unifier
Letâs begin with King David, a unifying figure in Israelâs history. David was not just a great warrior but also a leader who united the divided tribes of Israel. For years, the nation was divided by conflict, but David united them into one kingdom, becoming a symbol of unity for the people of God.
Now, consider Jesus as the new David. His mission was not limited to uniting the tribes of Israel. Instead, Jesus came to reconcile all humanity. Through his life, death, and resurrection, he brought together not just one nation but all people, transcending every division of race, culture, and class.
As Paul writes: âHe has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.âThis kingdom is not built on force or domination. It is founded on divine love, a love that has the power to unite what is broken and bring people together as one. Under Christâs kingship, we find our unityânot through political systems or worldly powers, but through the bond of love and forgiveness that he offers to all.
Think about our own Friday night free meal ministry. When we serve others, we are not just offering food; we are creating a space of welcome and belonging. People come to share a meal, but they leave having experienced something deeperâa sense of dignity and connection. In these simple acts of love, we reflect the unity of Christâs kingdom, where everyone is valued and no one is left behind.
Christ as the Warrior King
Jesus is also a warrior King, but his battle is unlike any we might expect. In the ancient world, kings were fighters. David confronted Goliath with nothing but a slingshot, and Israelâs kings led their people in battles against nations like the Philistines and Babylonians. These battles symbolised the struggle between Godâs ways and the forces of sin and darkness.
Jesus, too, faced the powers of darkness, but his battlefield was not a physical one. From the moment of his birth, he was opposed. When Herod heard of his arrival, he trembled with fear and tried to destroy him. Throughout his ministry, Jesus encountered resistance from visible forcesâreligious leaders, political authoritiesâand invisible ones, such as spiritual powers of darkness. Yet he did not respond with weapons or violence. Instead, Jesus fought with truth, love, and forgiveness.
The cross was the ultimate battlefield. On the cross, Jesus allowed the full weight of the worldâs hatred, cruelty, and violence to come upon him. He absorbed every force of dysfunctionâanger, aggression, and sinâand overcame them. This is the paradox of his kingship: his victory came not through domination but through self-emptying love.
The Paradox of the Cross
To the world, the cross seemed like the ultimate defeat. The Messiah, put to death by Israelâs enemies, appeared to be a failure. But this is the great mystery of our faith: the cross was not a defeat; it was the decisive victory. Through his suffering, Jesus broke the power of sin and death, overcoming them with the infinite love of God.
His words on the cross, âFather, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,â reveal the depth of his mission. No sin is beyond Godâs forgiveness. And through the resurrection, Jesus shows us that Godâs love is stronger than any force of darknessâstronger than hatred, violence, or even death itself.
Christâs kingship is rooted in this transformative power. He doesnât fight evil on its own terms. When we respond to hatred with hatred or violence with violence, we only continue the cycle of sin. But Christ shows us another way: the way of forgiveness, compassion, and love. In doing so, he overcomes the very powers that seek to destroy.
The Churchâs Mission
This mission of Christ continues through the Church. When Jesus said to Peter, âUpon this rock, I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it,â he wasnât describing a defensive position. Gates are a defensive structure, meant to protect a city from attack. Jesus is telling us that the Church is actively advancing, empowered to break through the gates of sin and darkness and bring people into his kingdom.
As members of Christâs Mystical Body, we are called to carry this mission forward. Ministries like our free meal program on Friday night are one way we do this. When we create spaces of love and care, we are breaking down barriers and proclaiming the power of Christâs kingdom. Each act of kindness, each moment of forgiveness, is a way of pushing back against the darkness and reflecting the light of Christâs love.
This message is deeply relevant today. In a world filled with division, injustice, and personal struggles, the kingship of Christ offers hope. When we choose to live under his rule, we become agents of unity and reconciliation. We donât need to be warriors in the worldly sense. Instead, we fight with the weapons of Christ: forgiveness, humility, and love.
Think about your own life. Are there places where you can bring Christâs love? Maybe itâs through reaching out to someone who feels isolated, forgiving someone who has wronged you, or volunteering in a ministry that serves others. These small acts are powerful. They show that the kingdom of Christ is not an abstract idea but a living reality that transforms the world.
The true power of Christâs kingship lies in his self-emptying love. On the cross, Jesus revealed this love in its fullest form, drawing the whole world to himself. As Paul writes: âHe has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son.â
Jesus, crucified and risen, is the King of kingsâthe new David, the unifier of all creation, and the ultimate source of our hope. Under his kingship, we find unity, healing, and purpose. This is the message of the feast of Christ the King: that Godâs love has triumphed over sin and death. And now, as members of his kingdom, we are called to carry that love into the world. Amen.
