Podcast appearances and mentions of king sunday

The church's liturgical year ends with Christ the King Sunday and Megan explores what it means for Christ to be king in a nation that rejects kings.

This is Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of the Christian Year. It is a time when we remind ourselves that Jesus Christ is truly the King of Kings. He doesn't look like the King of this world, but what he offers is truly something we need, but don't necessarily want. Join us as we look at the story of Jesus and the two criminals on the cross, and what it can teach us about the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  Thank you again for joining us in worship. For more information about our congregation, please visit our website at milfordhillsumc.org. If you would like to support Milford Hills UMC's mission to Love, Serve, and Live as Christ, please visit milfordhillsumc.org/give or text 'GIVE' to 833-264-3866.

A homily for the feast of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

Luke 23:33-43 Sermon by the Rev. Ben Brannan from Christ the King Sunday, November 23, 2025. Read the manuscripts of our latest sermons at: https://www.spres.org/worship/sermons/ 

As we wrap up Christ the King Sunday—and the Christian year—Magrey and Matt reflect on where we've been, what's grounding us right now, and where our faith might carry us next. They share a simple three-part gratitude practice perfect for your Thanksgiving table, and explore what it really means to say “Jesus is Lord” in a world shaped by Christian nationalism and diverse faith traditions.Find out more at HydeParkUMC.org/NextSteps

November 23, 2025: May God's words be spoken, may God's words be heard.  Amen. For some, this is a day called Christ the King Sunday, but as I say every year, that is not a title he would have ever claimed.  As we heard in the Gospel, it was a title given to him by the oppressors who crucified him.  No, Jesus would not be happy with this King business I believe, Jesus is Lord is enough, and was for centuries for his followers, as Christ the King wasn't even a thing until 1925.  So, not Christ the King…but it is Advent. And we have practiced the original seven week Advent here at Christ Church since 2016, and as then, it seems so appropriate now, because Advent is about a people walking in darkness, but not a people without hope. The people are in crisis.  Many live in fear.  The country is divided against itself.  People don't know which way to turn, how to take the next step, what to do, because the leaders have failed them.  Certainly, this sounds like it is a time of darkness, and even very familiar – but I am not talking about the events in this country, at least not yet. I am talking about the passage in Jeremiah we heard this morning.  If you were in doubt about whether Advent, from a lectionary point of view, is seven weeks long, just look again at our reading today from Jeremiah and the Canticle. Jeremiah begins with a stern warning from God for those in power that because they have abused their people, because they have not care for their flock, they will meet with God's wrath.  Jeremiah had been speaking about the failure of leaders in the time of the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 587 bce.  And the passage ends with a very Advent-y verse “The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch…” God clearly was not happy with the shepherds who failed their sheep. One of the things that our faith, our scriptures, make abundantly clear, is the importance of shepherds.  And being a shepherd is about never forgetting that the focus of your work must always be on the welfare of the sheep. This is true, not only for those who watch over flocks, but for all kinds of leadership positions – from President to parent, from CEOs to church leaders.  We don't have to have lived in the Ancient Near East to understand what can happen when shepherds fail in their work.   We have borne witness to this in our lifetimes. Today, we can certainly understand what it must have felt like back in the days of Jeremiah to be a people divided, scattered, fearful of our leaders, and not sure what tomorrow will bring.  Our own nation's leaders have not only failed to be good shepherds, it is far worse than that.  They have actually turned on the sheep.  Our country – once a beacon of freedom and democracy to the world – has entered into the dark shadows of oligarchy and systemic oppression. The President has put masked troops in the street shooting tear gas and pepper balls into crowds of citizens, and callously throwing people, including clergy, onto the pavement – arresting them for the crime of free speech.  He is responsible for the execution of over 80 people without due process of law through drone strikes on boats in international waters.  He has had thousands detained, including zip tying children (let that sink in), again without due process of law, and even deported many of them to foreign prisons notorious for their human rights abuses.  He has dismissed the concern of over a thousand female victims of a child sex predator to protect his own hide, calling their abuse a hoax.  And his government has stolen affordable access to healthcare for the poor to give money in tax breaks to the rich and powerful. And while some may feel this is less important – it goes to his misogyny and eroding of the freedom of the press – the silencing of those who courageously try to protect the flock from predators.  He told one woman reporter who dared ask him a question, “Quiet Piggy!”  Then he held a meeting at the White House with Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, known for his brutality, including the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a US citizen, by having him chopped up while still alive.  When the President was asked about meeting with him by another reporter (also a woman) he called her “insubordinate.”  Insubordinate – as though he is a king who cannot be questioned.  And to another who asked directly about the murder of Khashoggi, he said “A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen.”  Things happen?  Sure, a guy walks into a bathroom and things like a bone saw just kinda happen to him. Seriously.  You can't make this stuff up.  These are dark days we find ourselves walking in, to be sure. And it could make anyone feel like just pulling the covers over their heads and praying that things will change.  That perhaps new leaders will emerge and make everything better in some distant future.  But, that would be like reading only parts of this passage from Jeremiah – the beginning condemnation of the current leaders in the first two verses, and the promise of a new leader in the final verses, when what we need most to pay attention to today is everything in between. Because if we focus only on the current predicament, and the hope of new leadership, we miss what God intends for us, and it is something so very needed now. After condemning the current leaders, God then says “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock, and…I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing.”  God declares “I will raise up shepherds…”  Well, guess where God gets those new shepherds?  From right within the flock!  God intends to call from among the sheep new shepherds. As one commentator noted, “While [Jeremiah] opens with judgment and closes with a promise of a future leader who will save and protect the people, the larger book of Jeremiah does not let us — the people — off the hook as we wait.” So, both sheep and shepherds have responsibilities to the full flock.  Everyone has a role to play, especially when we talk about our lives in Christ.  Some are called to a dedicated shepherd role.  Bishops are the shepherds for a diocese and Deacons assist in that work.  Priests are the shepherds for a parish or other type of faith community.  But what about the laity, the sheep?  Well, that's what we hear about in the Song of Zachariah, the canticle, or for Latin nerds, the Benedictus, chanted so beautifully this morning by our choir.  Zachariah, after the miraculous birth of his son John by his wife Elizabeth, had a lot to say.  Now, you can understand why when we remember what the angel Gabriel did to him before this.  See, back about nine months earlier, Zach was a priest, and it was his turn to serve in the temple.  This was not an every week thing.  There were a lot of them, and so maybe this was his one shot a year.  So, he's back there doing his priestly work, burning some incense, as you do, when the angel Gabe pops in to tell him “Hey Zach!  You and Liz are gonna have a baby!  You will call him John, and he will be a great prophet, who will proclaim the coming of the Lord.” Now, Zach was a bit skeptical, after all, he and Liz were getting on in years.  So, he says “Seriously?  How is that gonna happen?  My wife and I are already on Medicare for crying out loud.”  Gabe was not pleased.  “I am Gabriel – the best messenger God has!  I came all this way to give you this awesome news and you doubt me?”  Knowing priests love to talk, he made Zach mute until the baby was born.  Which tells you that if an angel appears, even in flames like the movie Dogma, keep your doubts to yourself. So, as we know now, Liz did get pregnant.  Her cousin Mary, the mother of Jesus, came to visit her, etc.  Fast forward to today's passage, and that baby was just born.  Zach's mouth was opened, and he wasn't holding back.  He told all that had gathered to celebrate this birth what this miracle child would do.  He told them that salvation was coming for all of them, and that John would be called a prophet, and prepare the way for the coming of Christ.  That's a lot right there for this newborn.  But there's more.  John's prophetic witness would shine light “…on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” This prophet John, through his witness in the world, would give light where there is darkness, and guide others toward peace.  John would be a great prophet of God in a time of deep darkness.  He was also an example to us all, most especially now. John, a sheep of God's flock, was made for such a time as he lived.  And you know what? So are you.  So is every single one of you. It is in times such as when John was born, such as what we are experiencing now, that light is needed most within the shadows of despair, longing, fear, and hate.  And that is when God raises up prophets to carry the light of hope and love into a world of darkness and discord.  While it is true that some will do this in particular calls to ordained life – all of us are called to be John – to be the prophets that guide others to the way of peace.  And if you think about it, there is a shepherding quality to prophet work, right? If you are guiding others, you are a shepherd.  And in the church, as all are part of the priesthood of all believers, so each of you is called to be both sheep and shepherd.  That is our life as a part of the flock of God, most especially when the flock – the people of God, and the creation in which we dwell – are in danger, are being hurt, are living in fear.  Folks, is it clear that we are in Advent – both in the church and in the world.  And God is looking for prophets, for shepherds, to listen, to lead, and to love.  Forget looking to someone else to do it – look in the mirror instead. Because God is calling you – here, now. In Advent most of all, we know that in the darkest of times, the light will always come.  But it is up to each of us, following where the Holy Spirit leads, to be that light too – to be Christ's light shining in the world.  And one way we do that is by what we will do here today.  Later in this service, each of you will bring forward food for the those in need and your pledge cards – a commitment to stewardship of this place, out of which we bring the gospel message of hope to a world in need, and in which we are given restoration for our souls as we do this prophetic work of being shepherds in the world.  The food, for both humans and animals, is our commitment to caring for the folk of God. The pledges are a commitment to be the prophet our Creator needs today, and proclaim from the highest hills, and the lowest valleys, that God loves everyone – no exceptions.  They are a pledge to be the shepherd of a people who are lost, alone, or living in fear. They are a step in the longer journey of our life, and in the long history of shepherds and prophets of God. Long ago, God, through the prophet Jeremiah, lamented those called to be shepherds who failed their flock, who failed in God's mission and call for them, and declared that other shepherds would be raised up instead.  And they were to the hope of all creation. Long ago, John was born with a call to prepare the way for the One who would bring light into the world.  Today, we are the ones that God has raised up – born in baptism – not to prepare the way, but to be the way – to guide others, by the light of Christ shining in us and through us, into the path of peace. To be both the sheep of God's pasture, and the shepherd of others.  These are dark and dangerous times, and this will not be easy work.  And, so I want to leave you with these words of a 13th century woman who heard her own call to be a shepherd.  She cast aside all she knew and left the wealthy life of her noble birth to follow Christ.  She was Clare of Assisi, who started the monastic order known as the Poor Clares.  On her deathbed, St. Clare offered this blessing – words that still ring out through the centuries, serving as a reminder that we never do this work alone.  Christ is always our partner in our call.  And so I offer them now to you to take into your heart as you leave here today to be the shepherds, the prophets, who light the way and guide others into the path of peace, the ones God calls for the sake of the world: “Live without fear: your Creator has made you whole, always walks with you, and loves you as a mother. So, follow the good road in peace, and may God's blessing remain with you always.” Amen. For the audio, click below, or subscribe to our iTunes Sermon Podcast by clicking here (also available on Audible): Sermon Podcast https://christchurchepiscopal.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Rec-001-Sermon-November_23_2025.m4a   The Rev. Diana L. Wilcox             Christ Church in Bloomfield & Glen Ridge November 23, 2025 Advent 2 (7 Week Advent) – Year C Texts 1st Reading – Jeremiah 23:1-6 Canticle 16 2nd Reading – Colossians 1:11-20 Gospel – Luke 23:33-43   The post “Live Without Fear” appeared first on Christ Episcopal Church.

Sermon preached by Fr Matt Tebbe at The Table's worship service on November 23, 2025, Christ the King Sunday)

Nina Schuurman-Drenth is back in the pulpit for the last week of the liturgical year: Christ the King Sunday. Church new year starts next Sunday. Time for Advent.Preached in the Eucharist Sanctuary on Sunday, November 23, 2025.

The Sermon from the 24th Sunday after Pentecost 2025 known as "Christ the King Sunday," delivered by The Very Rev. Sean Templeton, at St. Anselm Anglican Church on November 23, 2025; the ninth and final sermon in our Fall 2025 Series. The Scriptures, Prayers for the Day and Sermon questions may be found in PDF at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OqCGv-y2Nrqe2myMhDbGbtf27lVLz4ly/view?pli=1 Learn more about St. Anselm Anglican Church at: St. Anselm Anglican Church at: www.StAnselmAnglican.org

Christ the King Sunday 2025 Colossians 1:11-20, Luke 23:35-43 Christ the King Sunday, November 23, 2025 The Rev. Dr. Erin Moniz Church of the Redeemer, Nashville, TN www.Redeemer-Nashville.net

In this homily on Christ the King Sunday, The Rev. Dr. James E. Taylor, Rector of St. George Episcopal Church, discusses the differences between Christ's actions as a king and other royal leaders. As this church year closes and a new one begins next Sunday with Advent, it is his hope that each of us will realize that we are called to live as a disciple and push forth Christ's Kingdom.Send comments to: musingsonfaith@gmail.com.

Homily from Christ the King Sunday, A.D. MMXXV.

Fr. Bliss Spillar, our Senior Pastor, preaches on Christ the King Sunday. Intro for Sermon Podcasts Outro for Sermon AudioWe are a community hoping to live the Jesus-way in our city as a people of God's hospitality, God‘s restoration, and God's shalom. Learn more about All Souls Charlottesville: www.allsoulscville.com

One Church's weekly sermons. This week, Pastor Matt shares a message related to Christ the King Sunday on the church calendar. In this sermon, Pastor Matt shares about flourishing and justice. Exodus 34:11-16, 20-24.For more information about One Church, check out our website, becomingone.churchtrac.com . Follow us on Facebook or Instagram: @onechurchville

Christ is King. We are living in the days of his reign and rule right now. This alone brings us safety and peace as we live in this world.This sermon based on Jeremiah 23:1-6 was preached on Christ the King Sunday, November 23, 2025.

The Realm of Christ / Christ the King Sunday; Sermon based on Luke 23:33-43. Preached at The First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn (https://linktr.ee/firstchurchbrooklyn). Podcast subscription is available at https://cutt.ly/fpcb-sermons or Apple Podcasts (https://apple.co/4ccZPt6), Spotify, Amazon,....This item belongs to: audio/first-church-brooklyn-sermons.This item has files of the following types: Archive BitTorrent, Columbia Peaks, Item Tile, Metadata, PNG, Spectrogram, VBR MP3

On Christ the King Sunday, the Rev. Nick Lannon preaches a sermon on Colossians 1, in which Paul describes Jesus as a glorious king, and Luke 23, in which Jesus is crucified below a sarcastic placard proclaiming him King of the Jews. Jesus is a king who deserves our obedience...and he is the king who gives up his own life to save us.

Lead Pastor Ashley Mathews preaches from the book of Ephesians on the Last Sunday after Pentecost, Christ the King Sunday.

In our Traditional sermon for November 23, 2025, Christ the King Sunday, we look at what it means to say that Christ is King?  His kingship is not like the earthly, human kings, but His kingship is found in His wounds. He inhabits our praise, but He also inhabits our suffering and hurts.  Jesus, alone, is King! 

To conclude our sermon series, Father Eric highlights Jesus' kingship as we celebrate Christ the King Sunday.

A sermon for Christ the King Sunday, November 23, 2025. Luke 23:33-43 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. The people stood by, watching Jesus on the cross; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

On Christ the King Sunday, learn how Jesus' kingship exposes every false power—and invites us into real, lasting hope.Morning Offering, November 23, 2025Every morning, join Father Brad as he begins the day with prayer and reflection. In a few short minutes, Father Brad guides you in prayer, shares a brief reflection grounding your day in the Church's rhythm of feast days and liturgy, and provides you with the encouragement necessary to go forward with peace and strength. Disclaimer: The ads shown before, during, or after this video have no affiliation with Morning Offering and are controlled by YouTubeLet us do as the saints urge and begin our days in prayer together so as a community of believers we may join the Psalmist in saying, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3-4)________________

The good news about our one true King. A sermon for Christ the King Sunday on Jeremiah 23:1-6 & Luke 23:33-43 by Rev. Justin Morgan

This is Christ the King Sunday—and the throne is a cross…Happy Harvest Thanksgiving to all who celebrate, too!

Rooted in Jeremiah 31 and Christ the King Sunday, we reflect on a God who doesn't abandon abandoned places. A God who hops fences, returns after rejection, and keeps planting hope where others see waste. This is not the king of culture wars, influence, or perfection—but the king who washes feet, gathers the dismissed, restores soil, and renews lives.

Listen to the sermon from the Rev. Ryan Fleenor at 10am worship on Sunday, November 23, 2025, Christ the King Sunday. For more information and more sermons, visit www.saintlukesdarien.org.

Guest Preacher Patrick Boatwright preaches from Luke 23 on Christ the King Sunday.

Fr. Tom preaches on Christ the King Sunday

This Sunday, churches throughout the world will be celebrating Christ the King Sunday. The purpose is to recenter our lives on the true King of the world. Join us this Sunday morning at Christ City Church as we seek to do the same. Robert Grisham will be our guest preacher.

"Christ the King Among Us," Christ the King Sunday; Psalm 46; Rev. Dcn. Ashley Davis.

In this sermon by Chris Romig, the focus is on Christ the King Sunday, a day marking the end of the church calendar and emphasizing the ultimate reign of Jesus as King. Chris Romig explains the biblical and historical foundation of the church calendar, which retells the story of God's redemption and shapes the faith of believers throughout the year. He traces the church calendar from Advent to Pentecost and "Ordinary Time," noting that Christ the King Sunday reminds Christians that their primary loyalty is to Jesus, not earthly leaders. The sermon delves into Revelation 11, where the sounding of the seventh trumpet signals both impending judgment and the victorious coronation of Christ, whose coming reign is described with such certainty that it is spoken of as already accomplished. Chris Romig emphasizes the hope found in God's promises of future justice, reward for the faithful, and the fulfillment of God's covenant, symbolized by the Ark of the Covenant appearing in heaven. He encourages the congregation to live in the light of eternity, letting the assurance of Jesus' ultimate victory shape their perspective today, and to actively share this hope. The message concludes with a call to gratitude, faithfulness, and confident anticipation of Christ's return, affirming, "God wins."

In this Christ the King Sunday message from Luke 23:33-43, Pastor Marshall explores how Jesus' throne is a cross and His power is self-giving love. Listen in and consider what it means to let the Crucified King reign over your own heart.Send us a text

11/23/25 Homily: Christ the King Sunday by Fr. Patrick Hyde, OP

Pastor Taylor Shippy - Philippians 3:7-14Christ the King SundayOn this "Christ the King Sunday," we launch our Advent sermon series "It's About Time" by exploring what it means to tell time by Jesus. As the Christian Year ends and begins again, we're invited to see time not just as minutes and months, but as a grace-filled rhythm shaped around the life of Christ.This sermon shows how the Church Calendar—Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost—is more than a set of holidays. It's a way of learning to navigate the real seasons of our lives: waiting, joy, revelation, suffering, renewal, and empowerment. Our lives often rhyme with the story of Jesus, and the Christian Year helps us recognize God's presence in every moment.This morning we're invited to learn how making Jesus “king of our time” can form us, guide us, and open your eyes to the hidden grace of God in every season.

Daniel Adkinson - Christ the King Sunday, 2025

Many young people today are not just asking whether God is real. They are asking whether God is good. On Christ the King Sunday, this sermon turns to the cross to answer that question with clarity and hope.Jesus reveals a kingdom unlike any earthly power. He does not rule through force or domination. He takes on the weight of sin, suffering, and death itself to bring healing and new life to the world. At the place of the skull, when everything seems lost, God shows his true heart.This message invites us to look at Jesus and see the God who created all things, who holds all things together, and who draws near to our pain with redeeming love. Christ is our Savior. Christ is our King.

On the 100th anniversary of Christ the King Sunday, Reagan explores what it really means for Jesus to reign. Not through power or domination, but through the cross, self-giving love, and a kingdom shaped by sacrifice. The question for us: Is Jesus truly first in our lives?

The sermon from the Christ the King Sunday, November 23, 2025, worship service of Atlanta First United Methodist Church by Lead Pastor Rev. Jasmine R. Smothers. “Lead Courageously” in the worship series “Write the Vision.” Scripture lessons: Joshua 1:9; Ephesians 6:10; Ezekiel 12:21-28 (New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition).Support the show

Luke 23:33-43When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. And the people stood by watching, but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingdom.” He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” In fifth grade, my house was toilet papered. Waking up that morning, it looked like there had been a blizzard—but only at my house. And the worst part is it took a solid two hours to clean up. We got word the perpetrators were coming back, so my brother made a plan. We hid in the bushes with the hose, firecrackers, and an air horn at the ready. As soon as the first roll hit the tree, we unleashed it all. It was some of the sweetest revenge I'd ever tasted. But here's the thing—I wanted more. Now I am not proud to admit this, but for the next two years, I was a serial toilet-paperer. I went TP-ing with my friends every chance I got. I don't think to this day my parents know this. Finally, one fateful night a police officer stopped our fun and we dropped our rolls of toilet paper for good. He could have called our parents, ordered community service. But he just made us clean up the mess, giving us mercy we didn't deserve.If I asked you what the most deadly addiction is, you might say smoking, alcohol, fentanyl, or maybe Facebook. But no, it's none of that. This addiction is far more common and not a substance or drug at all. The deadliest addiction is revenge. That's the argument put forth by James Kimmel Jr., a professor at Yale. He says nearly every form of violence childhood bullying, domestic violence, police brutality, war—begins with someone convinced they're a victim seeking justice.And for the first time in human history, we have some scientific insight into how we can stop this deadly addiction. Revenge is that feeling, sometimes subtle, sometimes intense, to return the pain someone first gave you. Through scans and research, Kimmel and his team have found that a brain on revenge looks a lot like a brain addicted to drugs.Grievances of any kind—real or imagined, disrespect, betrayal, shame— they all light up the brain's pain center. Our brains don't like that and so it quickly starts reaching for pleasure.We could reach for anything after we've been wronged—a tub of ice cream, an intense workout, a few drinks—and those might help for a moment. But the uncomfortable truth is that we humans get the most satisfying pleasure from hurting the very person who hurt us. It's not our best trait.Neuroscientists have shown that when someone wrongs us and we even imagine retaliation, the brain's reward centers wake up. The parts tied to craving and habit-building fire just like they do when addicts feel stressed or see something associated with getting a fix. Revenge isn't just an idea; it's an addictive action. Yet, unlike other addictions, revenge is addiction turned outward. Instead of harming ourselves to get a fix, we harm someone else. And like any addiction, the thrill is short-lived, the pain returns leaving one feeling even worse, and the craving only grows.Perhaps you know how this feels. As a kid, it's the punch you throw when the roughhousing gets too rough. In marriage, it's the sentence you say that you know will cut deeper than any knife. As an adult, it's the desire to slash the tires of the buffoon who cut off everyone in the school pickup line. We all know that impulse. It's part of being human.And it certainly isn't limited to individuals. Right now, it feels like our whole nation is running on it. Childish name-calling, dangerous threats, the endless churn of angry rhetoric: vengeance seems to be the most animating force in public life. It shows up across the political spectrum, where the goal is clearly not about solving problems but more about scoring points or making “the other side” hurt. I see it too in the Christian Nationalist movement, which grows out of a perceived assault on Christianity, by which they mean a very narrow version of Christianity defined as white, straight, and evangelical. The response is to attack back through laws and power in public life. We've built a society—a kind of kingdom—where hurt is expected to be met with greater hurt, and the loudest voices insist the only way to win is to strike back harder.Christ the King Sunday, which began 100 years ago today, was created to celebrate a king and kingdom that operates in the opposite way. If there was ever someone innocent who endured great harm—someone who could have, maybe even should have, returned the pain—was it not Jesus Christ, the King of the Jews? The one crucified between criminals while the very people who once followed him stood by and watched? Surely he had every right to act with vengeance, to call down the wrath of God, to save himself from that cross and rule like every other king tries to do. That's exactly what the crowd urged him to do. Three times people said to Jesus, “Save yourself.” It's what we humans know best.But that's not the kind of King Jesus is. His first words from the cross were not a declaration of innocence or a plea for pity, but a favor from his Father: “Forgive them.” It's fascinating that Jesus speaks to God in this moment. He doesn't say I forgive you to the ones nailing, flogging, and scoffing at him. That wouldn't have made any sense. They didn't think they were doing anything wrong. In their minds, they were doing exactly what they should be doing: executing a sentence of execution for a man charged with treason.And here's the part that always stops me: Jesus isn't only speaking about the people at the foot of the cross. His words reach beyond that moment. It's as if Jesus is saying, Father, please forgive them—because I already have. And the “them,” the object of that forgiveness, is me and you. Jesus came preaching and presenting a different way to be in the world, an alternate kingdom to reign over our lives—one of mercy, kindness, forgiveness—and we killed him for it. And every time we long for revenge, every time we save ourselves, every time we reject mercy, we put him back on that cross, crucifying the voice that tells us there's another way. Yet just like he did then, he says to us again, “Father, forgive them; they don't know what they are doing.” God, in Jesus, meets our violence with grace; our anger with forgiveness; our revenge with reconciliation. Always and only.The way of Jesus and his kingdom is what neuroscience now tells us is the best way to stop the dangerous, deadly pull of revenge: forgiveness. Research shows that even picturing yourself forgiving someone triggers something powerful: the brain's pain center settles, the craving for revenge loosens, and the part of your mind that helps you think clearly and choose wisely lights back up.Forgiveness is not saying what happened was okay or pretending the wound never happened. It means letting God begin loosening revenge's grip on your mind but more importantly on your heart. In other words, forgiveness acts like a kind of wonder drug. It eases the hurt, dead-ends the desire to strike back, and breaks the hold pain has on you. And best of all, it's free, always available, and you can take another dose whenever needed. Try it this week. Call to mind one person who has hurt you and, in prayer, quietly just begin to imagine forgiving them. You don't have to tell them. You don't have to have it all figured out. Just imagine it, and let Christ the King meet you there.You can do this. We can do this. We don't have to keep hurting each other. You don't have to live with the pain someone else has inflicted on you. We can drop our rolls of toilet paper or whatever your retaliation is, once and for all, and stop the harm being done, big or small. There is a way out of this addiction and we didn't need scientific research to prove it. Christ the King has been showing us how all along, giving us a mercy we don't deserve. Amen.

United Protestant, Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, Moravian, Methodist, Nazarene, Reformed, and Western Rite parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church outside Russia, celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. Observed as the last Sunday of the Liturgical year before the First Sunday of Advent, The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, commonly referred to as the Feast of Christ the King, Christ the King Sunday or Reign of Christ Sunday, is a feast which emphasises the true kingship of Christ the King, referred to in Key New Testament passages including the book of Revelation, which names Jesus as "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." Books by Bishop Robert Barron available at https://amzn.to/44W7nwN The Theology of Robert Barron at https://amzn.to/4mTIkUf ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's TIMELINE video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Mark's HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICA podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio credit: Bishop Barron’s Sunday Sermons — What Does It Mean to Say that Christ Is King? 22nov2015. Audio excerpts reproduced under the Fair Use (Fair Dealings) Legal Doctrine for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, education, scholarship, research and news reporting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Christ the King Sunday, Rev. Dr. Larry Hayward preaches the final sermon in his "Qoheleth" series. The Scripture lesson is Ecclesiastes 12:9-14.

Fr. Walsh reminds us that as we close the liturgical year on Christ the King Sunday, we are invited to reflect on whether we have grown in faith and to begin anew with hope in Christ. He challenges us to embrace the whole Jesus by living out His values—love, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, justice, and truth—in our daily lives.

On Christ the King Sunday, we remember how Christ redeemed us. In His weakness, we are made strong, and through His death, the gates of heaven are opened.

Christ the King Sunday, Luke 23:33-45 Jeffrey Michael Stewart 

The sermon for Christ the King Sunday, Luke 23:35-43, by the Rev. Bo Ubbens. Support the show

Christ the King Sunday, Year C

The Rev. Dr. Cathy Deats preaches on Christ the King Sunday.

Christ the King Sunday

Get all set for the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time with Father Christian RaabSummaryIn this engaging podcast episode, hosts Scott and Father Christian Rapp celebrate the anniversary of Sock Religious while diving deep into themes of leadership, vulnerability, and the significance of Christ the King Sunday. They explore biblical insights, particularly focusing on the leadership qualities exemplified by Jesus and King David, and discuss the importance of emotional intelligence and accountability in leadership roles. The conversation also touches on the challenges of admitting mistakes and the power of forgiveness, all while maintaining a lighthearted tone with personal anecdotes and reflections.TakeawaysCelebrating milestones fosters a sense of community and purpose.Christ the King Sunday emphasizes the importance of recognizing Jesus' leadership.Leadership is about guiding others towards a vision of the good.Vulnerability in leadership can strengthen relationships and trust.Admitting mistakes is a sign of strength, not weakness.Emotional intelligence is crucial for effective leadership.Obedience can provide accountability in leadership roles.Fear often hinders leaders from taking responsibility.Forgiveness is essential in maintaining healthy relationships.Shared experiences can enhance community and connection.Chapters03:17 Christ the King Sunday: A Celebration of Leadership04:18 Understanding Leadership Through Scripture05:00 The Role of Vulnerability in Leadership07:23 Lessons from Jesus: Leadership and Sacrifice10:21 The Importance of Accountability in Leadership13:18 Emotional Intelligence in Leadership16:34 Navigating Obedience and Leadership19:21 The Balance of Authority and Responsibility22:28 Fear and Humility in Leadership25:25 The Power of Forgiveness in Relationships28:15 Personal Reflections on Leadership31:17 Closing Thoughts and Future Connections