The following is an excerpt from Seasons of Worship: A Spiritual Calendar for the Church Today by Dr. Steven D. Brooks.
If you’ve been journeying with us through the Christian year . . . you’ve made it! Today is the last Sunday of the liturgical sacred calendar—Christ the King Sunday.
The observance of Christ the King Sunday is of utmost importance for Christians as it serves as a culmination and reminder of Christ’s sovereignty and reign over all creation. Falling on the last Sunday before Advent, it marks the completion of the Christian liturgical year. By honoring Christ as King, worshipers reassert their faith in his lordship and contemplate his teachings of love, justice, and compassion. This observance reinforces the centrality of Christ in their lives and worship, fostering a deeper comprehension of their faith and a steadfast commitment to following his example.
The Feast of Christ the King celebrates Christ’s messianic kingship and sovereign rule over all creation. This day reminds the church of the authority of Christ over all aspects of our lives. Christ the King Sunday has an eschatological element pointing to the end of time when the kingdom of Jesus will be established in all its fullness to the ends of the earth. It leads into Advent when the church anticipates Christ’s second coming.
©2024 Steven D. Brooks, Wipf and Stock Publishers
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If you would like to read more about Christ the King Sunday and the Christian year, and it’s spiritual impact upon the lives of worshipers, you can find more in Seasons of Worship: A Spiritual Calendar for the Church Today.