HOMILY – FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING

ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA CHURCH & FURMAN UNIVERSITY

NOVEMBER 22, 2009 – 8, 10, 12 NOON & 6:30PM

May Christ our King give us His peace.

Come and go kings, Jesus titles, King huh?

Come and go kings. In the time of the prophet Daniel, Kings came and went. They were over thrown, enthroned, deposed, proposed, coronated, killed, captured. Kings came and went. Daniel dreams of the great king, one who doesn’t come and go. He dreams of a king who was so loved by his people that all served him as he serve them. Daniel dreams of the everlasting dominion of a great king. A different one, God’s King.

Daniel’s dream happens in 500 B.C.. The longing for a great king will be fulfilled 500 years later in 0000, where B.C. meets A.D., at the birth of Jesus Christ, which marked the beginning of time as we now count it.

Daniel’s dream prayer came true. No more come and go kings.

Now, One King, one Lord, One God, who came - as promised.

Jesus titles. Here are some titles the bible gives to Jesus.

Faithful witness, 1^st born of the dead, Christ the King, Alpha and Omega.

The titles will cause rejoicing or lament depending on who we are. Lament for us who live away from Him when He comes, and rejoicing for us who may be ready when He comes. We are told all people will feel deep sorrow when we see Jesus Christ. We will see the scars.

You and I have come to know God, yet we are unfaithful when we act thinking we are out of His sight, thinking that God doesn’t care. But

Jesus has been a faithful witness, acting in God’s sight at all times. For this, the Father raised Him from death. He is the 1^st born from the dead. Jesus acted with author-ity, He alone is the one who came from the author, the one who is “one in being with the Father.” True authority, true King. More titles… Jesus Christ, the Word of the Father, co-existed with the Father and the Spirit. He has no beginning. The Word became flesh, and He is now ascended - one with the eternal Father, having no end. He is the Alpha (1^st letter of the Greek alphabet) and Omega (last letter of the Greek Alphabet). He is the beginning and the end of all things. We come from Him and will go to Him. Titles. Titles manifested to us in time, in flesh.

King, huh? With all that theo-logical mumbo jumbo, that real religgy talk, with everything that was known about His coming they still had the nerve to ask, “Are you a King?” There was no one like Him EVER! Yet it still came out of their mouths, “So you ARE a King?” King huh?

Yes! dag nabit, what are you simple? We are so, so simple. Sad too.

We can’t recognize a King when He stands right in front of us.

The only day that will ever make sense, the only time it will ever be worth it for God to have given us breath and heartbeats is when we snap out it.

YES! You are my King! Reign on! Lead me! Now and always.

Until then, we have no King, even though Daniel’s Great King came.

Until then, we will be puny kings and queens lording it over others, and even worse, being merciless to ourselves.

Instead, be glad, come to the King. Instead be led.

Get to know JESUS. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, your four buddies will take you to Him. They will take you to the one who never once stopped offering Himself that we might live free and forever.

Like a grateful spouse, a loving parent, a devoted child, a vowed servant,

adore the staying power, He is no come and go King. Pick a title, maybe Prince of Peace, or Lord. Let Him take you where you would not go.

King, huh? Um hmm. Our wonderful King. We can lead you know, like He does, full of mercy and love, faithfully. Or, we can go our own way.

You are not simple. You are saved. Let it show, let it show, let it show.