Why I Need a Sunday to Say “Christ is King”

During a recent visit to a hobby store owned by a Christian company, I was overwhelmed by an unexpected mix of sights, sounds, and sorrows. It was the week before Thanksgiving, and my goal was to find fall-themed paper napkins in hues of orange, gold, and yellow.

Instead, I was greeted with an overwhelming display of Christmas ornaments and the sound of Christmas carols. The tune “Mary Did You Know?” played as I navigated through the sparkling Christmas trees. Amid the repeating melody, my eyes landed on a Grinch-themed display. I could bring home green napkins — but not a Christmas green; a pukey, sick sort of green. Ugh.

Then I looked at the prices of these schlocky items. That really made me sick! And sad, too. I am not a Scrooge or a Grinch, but the entire commercial machine of the holidays is beyond repair. It takes our minds and hearts away from the message of Christmas.

So, before the juggernaut takes hold of me, I want to stop and reaffirm my faith.

I need a Sunday before the holiday rush to firmly declare that for me, Jesus is the ultimate ruler of this world. I want to go to a place (church) where I can declare, and in no way hesitant to proclaim, that Jesus Christ is King.

There is a Sunday for that. This year, Christ the King Sunday is November 26th.

The establishment of a Christ the King Sunday has an interesting backstory. The year 1925 was a crucial time, coming just after what many thought was the last great war, with signs pointing to potential new conflicts on the horizon. The world was facing an economic crisis, and people were desperately seeking answers.

Sound familiar?

Prominent figures of the time, such as Mussolini, celebrating his third year of leadership in Italy, and Adolf Hitler, a year after his release from jail with his National Socialist party gathering strength in Germany, claimed to possess the answers.

In the midst of this chaos, the Pope decreed that churches should set aside a Sunday to declare a powerful message: Jesus Christ is the sovereign King.

Sunday, November 26th, is Christ the King Sunday!

Amen to that!