Feast of Christ the King

23rd November 2025

Reflection with readings below

Each time we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we ask that God’s kingdom come on Earth as in Heaven. This is to ask that God should reign on Earth, that God’s rule should prevail here on Earth. This would be a transformation of the systems of power and authority that we see. God’s rule has the best interests of the poor and vulnerable at heart. God’s rule encourages cooperation and the sharing of resources. It engenders love and friendship between everyone. It engenders peace and harmony. Today we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King for as the last Sunday of the Church’s year it is when we reflect on the culmination of Jesus’s ministry – the establishing of God’s rule here on Earth. 

For the people Jeremiah was writing for, were in a no win situation – either to be overrun by the Babylonian Empire or to be taken over by the Egyptian Empire. Jeremiah places the fault with the nation’s leaders. They are more concerned for their own well being and safety, and have failed in their work of caring for, protecting and keeping the people together in community. Jesus himself will preach the same message when he castigates those in authority for having as little concern for their people as a hired hand hand has for the sheep – and will assert his own role as the Good Shepherd.

Are our leaders today  following the example of the good or of the bad shepherds? Do our government ministers have our best interests at heart or are they more focus on popularity in the polls? Do they care for migrants, for those seeking a safe place to live? Do they care for those already committed to working here, who as yet have no citizenship rights? Do they care whether or not the most vulnerable, and the poorest, actually have enough to live good healthy lives? Do they care enough to ensure that our children have the best start in life, or that our elderly can live free of worry in their old age? Or do they care more for those with large incomes, those who can successfully lobby for their attention, or who can manipulate the markets?

And what of the national governments involved with COP30? Are they willing to care for not just the people in their own countries but for the wellbeing of people across the world? The climate crisis doesn’t recognise national boundaries so unless they work together we will instead all suffer. 

And what too of those in positions of power that are not democratically elected? The CEOs of commercial organisations, the fund managers controlling vast portions of economic wealth, or the lobbyists and influencers who increasingly determine the direction of travel governments. Yet again, the number of lobbyists representing the interests of the fossil fuel industries at COP30 has risen: 1in  25 attendees is such a lobbyist. Their numbers exceed the delegates from the Philippines, and equally  those from Jamaica – both being nations recovering from extreme weather events driven by climate change. 

The world is full of ‘bad shepherds’. 

As Christians we need to follow Jeremiah’s example and call out the  abuse and misuse of power wherever we find it – and by the same token that means we should have ears and eyes open to what is happening in the world and be ready to ask the awkward questions so that such wrong doing does not happen unreported. As Christians we need to challenge the systems that allow people to exercise and misuse power in this way. And as Christians, we should be standing up for the needs as well as for the rights of the vulnerable and isolated. 

Yes these tasks can seem impossible, but with God as our strength and Jesus as our guide, we can and should do the best we can. It may mean doggedly reading the news and other reports even when this feels overwhelming. It may mean tediously writing letters and signing petitions. It may mean going out in the cold and wet to join vigils and protest marches (but these also come with wonderful times of camaraderie, with well earned breaks for coffee and cake, and with amazing encounters with amazing people). It may mean boycotting favourite foods or products – we do have significant power as consumers when we work together. It may mean changing our lifestyles to show solidarity with others and to be living examples of what the Kingdom of Heaven may look like.

As we prepare for the start of the new Church year, can we embrace Advent as a time to reflect on and renew our commitment to the coming of the Kingdom of God?

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 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, says the Lord.

The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”

The Song of Zechariah    Luke 1: 68-79

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free. 

He has raised up for us a mighty saviour, *
born of the house of his servant David. 

Through his holy prophets he promised of old,

that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us. 

He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant. 

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies, 

Free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life. 

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, 

To give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins. 

In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us, 

To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. 

Colossians 1:11-20

May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers– all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

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.”