Sermon: November 20, 2011 The Last Sunday after Pentecost - The Feast of Christ the King - The Rev. R. Allan McCaslin
Readings: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Psalm 100; Ephesians 1:15-23; Matthew 25:31-46
From Ezekiel, “Thus says the Lord God: ‘I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.’” I speak to you in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Today’s lessons remind me of a scene from that classic film, The Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy is asked, “Are you a good witch or a bad witch?” So, dear people of Holy Cross: Are we good sheep or bad sheep? Fat sheep or lean sheep? Are we sheep at all?
Today is the Feast of Christ the King, the last Sunday of the Church Year. The Christian Year begins with the Season of Advent which we observe next Sunday, a season that speaks of our sense of awe at the events that led up to the birth of our Lord and Savior at Bethlehem as well as, our sense of anticipation of our Lord’s second Advent, his return in glory and judgment which we celebrate on this day: The Feast of Christ the King. It is a day that is cause for celebration just as much as it is a day for sober reflection on how we will be judged: Are we good sheep or bad sheep?
The Prophet Ezekiel appeared during Israel’s 49 year exile in Babylon about 580 BC. It was the age of the Prophet Jeremiah who called upon the entire nation to repent. Ezekiel’s prophecies were directed toward the rulers of the nation who, through bad public policy, excessive squandering of wealth and general disdain for the poor and needy had turned the people’s hearts away from God’s values of justice, equality, mercy and personal responsibility. In today’s reading, Ezekiel uses a metaphor to describe leaders as Shepherds and it serves as a wonderful reminder that King David was called to be first and foremost, a shepherd of his people to guide them in the ways and values of God. Ezekiel tells us that God is tired of worthless Shepherds who seek only their own gain. God has had enough and promises to personally intervene in order to save his people. “I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.” God promises to gather his sheep from wherever they are. God will find the lost and those that have strayed and bring them home again where they will feed on God’s justice, be restored to abundant life, and will know God intimately.
Readings: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24; Psalm 100; Ephesians 1:15-23; Matthew 25:31-46
From Ezekiel, “Thus says the Lord God: ‘I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out.’” I speak to you in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Today’s lessons remind me of a scene from that classic film, The Wizard of Oz, when Dorothy is asked, “Are you a good witch or a bad witch?” So, dear people of Holy Cross: Are we good sheep or bad sheep? Fat sheep or lean sheep? Are we sheep at all?
Today is the Feast of Christ the King, the last Sunday of the Church Year. The Christian Year begins with the Season of Advent which we observe next Sunday, a season that speaks of our sense of awe at the events that led up to the birth of our Lord and Savior at Bethlehem as well as, our sense of anticipation of our Lord’s second Advent, his return in glory and judgment which we celebrate on this day: The Feast of Christ the King. It is a day that is cause for celebration just as much as it is a day for sober reflection on how we will be judged: Are we good sheep or bad sheep?
The Prophet Ezekiel appeared during Israel’s 49 year exile in Babylon about 580 BC. It was the age of the Prophet Jeremiah who called upon the entire nation to repent. Ezekiel’s prophecies were directed toward the rulers of the nation who, through bad public policy, excessive squandering of wealth and general disdain for the poor and needy had turned the people’s hearts away from God’s values of justice, equality, mercy and personal responsibility. In today’s reading, Ezekiel uses a metaphor to describe leaders as Shepherds and it serves as a wonderful reminder that King David was called to be first and foremost, a shepherd of his people to guide them in the ways and values of God. Ezekiel tells us that God is tired of worthless Shepherds who seek only their own gain. God has had enough and promises to personally intervene in order to save his people. “I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.” God promises to gather his sheep from wherever they are. God will find the lost and those that have strayed and bring them home again where they will feed on God’s justice, be restored to abundant life, and will know God intimately.
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