"Final Words" November 25, 2012

2nd Samuel 23:1-7 John 18: 33-37 This is a unique day in a unique year. Most frequently, the Sunday after Thanksgiving signals the beginning of Advent, and we progress full speed from Labor day to Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas and New Year's. But there were 5 Thursdays in November this year, so we are able to pause, to reflect, to claim this as The Final Sunday in the Church year, Christ the King Sunday. In addition to seasons of waiting, the birth of innocence, the temptations and journey of Jesus, the crucifixion and resurrection, the season of Pentecost when we acknowledge the Holy Spirit with us, at Christ the King we name: Jesus Christ is Our Lord and Savior, our identity is as children of God, brothers and sisters of Christ, we are the Church. On this day, we pay attention to the Final Words of King David, the final examination and indictment of Jesus by Pilate. Final words have special meaning for us, as if all our lives were cumulative, building to this final conversation in which truth can be revealed. The Final Episode of a favorite show, the final words of a story, the last words charged and spoken. But life is not cumulative, often we do not know that these are going to be our last words, our final declaration. There are instead numerous events each year of our lives, in which we are able to reflect on all we know, to claim relationships and identities we desire. There are moments throughout life, in which we reveal to ourselves and to all the world who we are and what is important. We have so many different stories about David. The youngest son of Jesse, whom the last of the Judges Samuel, anointed to be King. Little David who slew Goliath with a slingshot. David the shepherd boy who played the harp to soothe the rage of King Saul. David who led an army against Israel. David who brought the Ark of the Covenant home dancing. David who wanted to build a house for God, and instead God created a new covenant that the House of David would rule Israel as a dynasty. David who committed adultery with Bathsheba, then murdered her husband Urriah. David whose own son Absalom waged war against him. Yet here, in what are named as The Final Words of the King, there is no mention of these truths, these real human failures, only the revelation of glory in having been used as the instrument of God. All our sins, all the individual events of our lives can be forgiven. What matters is the revelation of who we are before God and the community. When we recite the lineage of our ancestors, we do not name our great great great grandparents as having been found guilty and exiled to live in America; instead we describe the bravery of those ancestors who risked three month long ocean crossings to come to this new world with hope, establishing roots for who we have become. Decades ago, in the 1950s, The Baby Doctor prescribed that it was natural for children when they came of age, realizing they were not in control, to want to run away from home. Dr. Spock encouraged trying to talk rationally as friends/equals, to explore if they had thought through where they would go, what they would do, if they were running away to join the circus or to live in a cave, whether they had enough food and clean socks.The idea being to make the ideas become so real before setting foot out the door, they would choose instead to stay; or if not, that you had a clue where they might be going. Current wisdom is different, instead of trying to understand, to rationalize and reason with a 3 year old, family need to emphasize that “We are part of one another. We belong together. We cannot run away because we are running away from ourselves.” This morning's sacrament, everything about this day, is revelation that we belong, we are integral to who one another truly are. According to the Gospel of John, Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate, the Representative of Rome for the Occupied territory of Palestine whose capital was Jerusalem. Throughout the Gospel, those who have questioned Jesus' authority to teach, to heal, to preach, have been the Pharisees and Saducees; but here Pilate instead represents all the power of the Roman Empire. While the leaders of the Religious community had charged Jesus with Blasphemy of usurping the power of God to heal and to forgive, Rome had a different power base and different concern: Treason. When we seek decisions, what is our concern? Is it power? Is it vindication of our rights? The origin of this congregation in this community, had as our primary concern: FORGIVENESS. What will it take when you are wronged, to forgive? Rome's concern was to conquer the world. Through the Roman Legion to dominate and control the entire known world as the Empire under the rule of Caesar. Pilate perceived Jesus to be a man, only a man, not even a Citizen of Roman but a Jewish man; therefore if he must lower himself to deal with this, Pilate will make an example of Jesus. This is not a typical trial, not a standard indictment of one who is accused of a crime. Pilate is attempting to make a political statement about power. Pilate deals only in fact, in what can be proven. Jesus here is describing a different reality. Pilate questions whether Jesus is King of a Kingdom that can challenge The Empire of Rome. Jesus' implies that instead the Empire of Rome is part of the Kingdom of God. Where Pilate attacks Jesus for what he represents, Pilate represents Roman Authority, Jesus King of the Jews; Jesus asks Pilate to consider what he himself believes. What Jesus challenges Pilate to consider is not what is factual, what is truth, what are your rights and powers, but what is being revealed by the ways we live? This child baptized this day, needs more than to be fed and cleaned and allowed to sleep. A child, each of us need to belong, need identity as being part of something greater than ourselves, and understanding our role and responsibilities within that.