Now What?

 The link for this week's live-stream worship service is https://youtu.be/KMhaRPwvhiM

I was in the midst of formatting the weekly mail-out to the congregation on Thursday when the word came through that all worship services were cancelled for the next two weeks, by order of Dr. Bonnie Henry. I dropped my hands from the keyboard and stared at the screen. "Now what?" 

After a lot of hard work our session answered my question. We live- stream a service as usual, but there will be no one in the pews. An eminently sensible solution. If COVID has taught us nothing else, it has forced us to be flexible.

Now, back to the blog! 

This past Sunday was Christ the King Sunday. 

This designation is a fairly recent one in the Christian calendar being initiated by Pope Pius XI in 1925 in response to the political situation in Europe. It was celebrated on the last Sunday of October. In 1969 Pope Paul VI moved it to the last Sunday before Advent where it's theme of Christ's dominion made a fitting end to the liturgical year (preceding Advent). 

In 1925, Pope Pius XI noted the rise of secularism in Europe and the increasing denial of Christ as king. More and more, new dictatorships attempted to assert authority over the Church and draw Christians away from their beliefs. He hoped a celebration of the Reign of Christ would remind the faithful that Christ must rule in our hearts, minds, wills and bodies.(Quas Primas, 33) 

We are reminded of Paul's impassioned words in Romans 8:38-39

 

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Although originated in the Roman Catholic church, the celebration is observed in many Protestant churches, including the Presbyterian Church in Canada.

The first celebrants of Christ the King Sunday were struggling against secularism. In 2020 we are also struggling with a pandemic. It doesn't hurt to be reminded that Christ rules supreme. Not even a virus can separate us from His love. For those who object to the notion of "king" or "ruler" we are reminded that  Christ's kingship is one of humility and service. Jesus said: 

Rather, whoever wishes to become great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many Mark 10:44-45

When we acknowledge Christ as King, we are not celebrating an oppressive ruler, but one who is willing to die for all of humanity. 

We have had to cancel many things in 2020, including worship services and Bible Study and choir and fellowship, but not even the nasty virus can cancel the Kingship of Christ.