The Church Year is, I think, one of the greatest gifts we have coming from our Catholic heritage. It grounds us to history and allows a dynamic focus to our readings and preaching. It is not in any way arbitrary. There is a method to our selection of readings, the colors on the altar, and the music we sing and hear.

We start the new year next Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent. We've been reading the lessons assigned for year B of our 3 year cycle. Next week, we will start year C. This year we have read mostly form Mark. Next year, it will be mostly Luke. Those who do morning or evening prayer will use year 1.

Advent is the time of year we prepare for the coming of Jesus, both as the baby who will become our King and Savior and as our Judge at the end of our lives. We use blue vestments in honor of Mary, the bearer of the King.

After 4 weeks, we celebrate the Nativity of our Lord, also known as Christmas. For 12 days, beginning on December 25, we celebrate Jesus birth in Bethlehem. We wear white for joy.

On January 6, and for several weeks, we celebrate the Epiphany. This is where we recall Christ being revealed to the World. We read about the coming of the Magi, the miracle of turning water into wine and Jesus being Transfigured on Mt. Zion. We where green as a symbol of the ordinariness of life.

Lent reminds us of Jesus going into the desert to be tempted and to reflect on his mission, ministry and destiny. It is a time of deep introspection. We wear purple as a sign of penance.

Palm Sunday begins our walk through Holy Week. We remember Jesus being proclaimed the King of the Jews as he rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. We follow his trial and persecution through that week until his arrest and execution on Good Friday. That Saturday, we grieve at the real essence of Jesus on Earth. We wear red for passion.

Easter celebrates Christ's resurrection and the promise of resurrection for us all. We wear white in joy.

On Pentecost, we remember the appearance of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the apostles mission to bring the World to Christ. We wear red for the Spirit.

For anywhere from 20 to 27 weeks, we are in ordinary time. We read about the Kingdom of God and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy in Christ.

Finally, we come to today. The Feast of Christ the King. It is the day we celebrate Jesus being set on the throne in heaven where he reigns as King supreme. See, we've gone full circle. On Advent 1, we prepare for the coming of the King, and now, we celebrate His coronation.

From expectancy to completion. A beautiful cycle of life.

But, why de we focus on the cycle of Christ's Kingship and not, say, celebrate his Lordship, or his role as redeemer or savior? Well, I think the easy answer is that by celebrating Christ as King, we celebrate the complete essential nature of Christ.

We don't know much about kings in this country, except that they dress funny and usually don't have any real authority any more. We remember that they did have unlimited power through much of the world, but the secular savior, democracy in some cases, despotism in others, has freed the world from such an arcane notion of leadership. One family decreed by God to be in charge. Why should heredity be trusted to ensure leadership? So, even England has a monarchy dependant on those elected in a democratic process.

People in Jesus' time and certainly for centuries before and after would have a much different understanding of King. Israel had a long history of kings who exercised absolute authority, supposedly under the direction of God, but often terribly afoul of God's will. 1st century Jews would have known only a puppet king, corrupt and arbitrary.

When the people called out on that Palm Sunday, Hosanna to the king, they probably meant a king like David or Solomon. Certainly human, but wise and faithful (David had a little problem with the faithful part but he got back in God's favor.)

Pilate wondered if Jesus was the King of the Jews. Was he to replace Harrod the puppet? Or was he to replace the Emperor? Neither was acceptable. Pilate, as well as the crowds and the religious elite couldn't fathom a Kingdom that had no geographic bounds. They couldn't picture a kingdom free of corruption and personal power.

A king. Riding in on a donkey. 12 undisciplined and mostly unarmed soldiers. Born in a barn. Some king.

Some King indeed.

The Kingdom of God cannot be fenced in. It can't be described by bounds and limits. The Kingdom of God is a now and not yet plane of existence. It is here now, incomplete, visible through the dark lens of our sin and brokenness. It is seen in glimpses of kindness and mercy.

The kingdom of God is abirthing in the hearts and minds of those who seek the King. Following the teachings of the king and trying to live into his perfection nurtures the quickening Kingdom.

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name. Thy Kingdom come! Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

We pray that prayer most every day. The verses, familiar, sliding easily off the tongue. Yet do we know, for what we ask, the coming of a holy King?

A King who demands obedience. A king who sets the bounds of our freedom. A king whose word is absolute. Yet, a king who rides a donkey who carries no spear or mace, rather the stripes of a rawhide whip and the nails of crucifixion.

The king of love, my shepherd is, his goodness faileth never. I nothing lack if I am his and he is mine for ever.

Are you a king?, asks Pilate. Am I your King? Jesus asks us.

The baby born in a stable and laid in a feeding trough, the new born king who was and is and is to come. The Kingdom of God which was and is and is to come. We've waited all year for this day, this day of Christ the King. And we wait with expectant souls and ready hearts to welcome the King who's will be done, on earth and as it is in heaven.