Hail, King Jesus!

"... far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come." Ephesians 1.21

Today is the Feast of Christ the King. Don't be alarmed if you come from a liturgically-rich background and you cannot recall any such occasion from your earlier experience. This is a relatively modern innovation. But its principle is sound: to harness the Sunday before Advent as the culmination of all the previous celebrations of Jesus through the year: his birth, death, resurrection, ascension, sending of the Spirit, &c. If All Saints recognises the completion of Jesus' mission in terms of the inclusion of all who belong to "the body", then Christ the King is the acknowledgment of Jesus as "head". So it's an anticipation of "mission accomplished". Its provisionality is only because its fulfilment awaits the return of Jesus. And because we know that will happen (though we know not when), the outcome is guaranteed - hence we are free to celebrate!