Devotional—Reign of Christ

In a few days, we celebrate Christ the King Sunday. It ushers us to the final Sunday of Ordinary Time with an extraordinary proclamation: Christ Reigns! What will Christ’s reign be like? We get a clue from Jesus’ words, “Go learn what it means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice’” (Matthew 9:13). Our Father is merciful, and the kingdom of Jesus is nonviolent.

Peace is His way of being human, which is the hope for the world. Can we let go of interpretations that tell of divine violence? Can we instead think of God as accompanying violent humanity until they finally give up the sword and the gun? Jesus is the Servant and the Lamb risen from the dead who gives us the faith to follow His way, to not retaliate or scapegoat. He has brought us into His reality of nonviolence.

The authorities at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, Pilate and Caiaphas, capitulated to the pressure of the violent mob demanding the death of Jesus. Jesus willingly died the atoning death for all humanity. The extreme cruelty of the crucifixion, though, was because of fallen humanity’s bent toward violence.

[Jesus] stripped all the spiritual tyrants in the universe of their sham authority at the Cross and marched them naked through the streets. Colossians 2:15 The Message

In true trinitarian extraordinariness, Jesus’ kingdom reign has been and always will be without harm or violence.

Prayer:
Jesus, we are grateful that you reign now, that your kingdom is here. Spirit, help us recognize and repent when we are participating in violent systems and scapegoating. We believe the Cross of Christ broke the power of sin and death, and we long for the fullness of your kingdom and no more violence and no more death. Amen.

By Reuben Rios, Pastor
Bellflower, CA, US

Read here about the retreat on nonviolence that Pastor Reuben hosted.