The Collect: Christ the King Sunday

(Screencast is below)

Thanks for joining me, this week we Lectio the Liturgy with the Collect for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe.

Almighty, ever-living God, whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of the universe, grant, we pray, that the whole creation, set free from slavery, may render your majesty service and ceaselessly proclaim your praise. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. 

Notice the things that match ini this prayer: restore = free from slavery, and all things = whole creation.

This week, I’ve been thinking about the will of God to restore all things in Jesus.

Restore is an easy word to give definition to.  It means renew. However, in the Latin form of this prayer, the word used is “instaurare.”  It does mean to renew, but it’s first definition is  establish.

Scripture tells us that Jesus came to establish the Kingdom of God and you and I should want to be in it. However, we are wounded, hurting, sinful people, but Jesus also came to renew us.

This weekend’s first reading, from the book of Ezekiel (34:11-12, 15-17) tells us how wants to restore us. He will rescue us, pasture us, and give us rest. He will seek the lost, bring back the strays, bind up the injured and heal the sick. “But the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly.” (v 16)

And this where the battle rages.

The world today is experiencing a war, but this war not against flesh and blood. It is against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places. (See Ephesians 6:12)

The war is not against two gods. Satan is only a creature, created by God, but Satan is not going down without taking as many souls as he can with him. You and I must each decide whose side we’re on. There’s no middle ground. The Bible speaks quite sternly to those who are lukewarm. We must be intentional. 

This Sunday we celebrate our Lord, Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Be on Jesus’ side, because Jesus wins. (I read the end of the book.)

Lectio the Liturgy: Meditate on the Scripture from Ezekiel. Talk with God about where you need him to restore you.