And the world turns

For us Christian liturgy types, the calendar turned two weeks ago....one liturgical year ended and new one began.  Christ the King closes out the long season of Pentecost and we embark on the very, very short season of Advent.  One Sunday Jesus reigns as King and the next we enter deep anticipation for his coming.  All of this might make your head spin; we end up right where we began.  Or do we?




Does the reminder that Jesus reigns as Lord of all Creation bring the same level of comfort as it did a year ago?  Are we looking for the coming of the Kingdom of God in quite the same way we were last year at this time?

We are a month post election and whether you are red or blue, I am wondering whether these core messages of God's reign in Jesus and Jesus' promise to come again have taken on new significance, and just possibly caused you to think deeply about them.  For those of us who believe in the eternal (which is not simply the amount of time it takes you to rake up ALL the leaves from that enormous maple in your backyard), what does it mean to believe that Jesus reigns - that in the end, it will be as God wills?

Are we to demur to the wisdom of governments in all matters?  Does Jesus not only teach us a particular path, but through his sacrificial love for us, demonstrate the power of love and forgiveness over the power of sin, death and the Devil (to quote one of Luther's favorite phrases)?  We who are baptized into Jesus - so that the life that Jesus lives now lives in us - are we called into particular action?  Has our responsibility for our neighbor increased?

Have we considered Jesus' example from the cross, that to rule does not mean to exert oppressive power over others in order to secure one's position of power?  Looking at the cross, are we reminded that in the end, violence is empty and enemies are to be forgiven?

For those who see the election results as a victory, what is your responsibility as the people in power?  For those who weep, what are you being called to do to live out your baptismal faith?

Lots and lots of questions.  Come Lord Jesus.