Reign of Christ

• Year C:  November 24, 2013
• First Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-6

The Herd Boy by Niki Daly

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment:  In this text we get a glimpse of a shepherd’s leadership as one who reigns with wisdom, justice, and righteousness. The Herd Boy follows a young shepherd, Malusi, through his day with the sheep. Though he is only a shepherd boy, Malusi dreams of growing up to be president. When he crosses the path of Nelson Mandela, he is told, “A boy who looks after his herd will make a very fine leader.” As you share this story and text with your congregation, consider author Niki Daly’s question to readers: “What is there in the life of a herd boy that would help prepare him to become the shepherd of a nation?”

Second Reading: Colossians 1:11-20

The Beautiful World that God Made by Rhonda Gowler Greene

(Written for ages 4-8)

Comment: Use this text as an invitation to view creation through the lens of Christ. You might wonder how your relationship to the world, nature, animals, and people  shifts or develops when you consider the fact that everything has been created through and for Christ. The Beautiful World that God Made invites readers to explore the beauty and wonder of God’s creation “that glowed in the light, brilliant and bright…” On this Reign of Christ Sunday, wonder together with your congregation about the ways God is calling us to live in the brilliant, bright light of Christ and honor all parts of creation.

Gospel Reading: Luke 23:33-43

Desmond and the Very Mean Word by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams

(Written for ages 5-9)

Comment: “Then Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.’” As we think of a world centered under Christ’s reign, our understandings are turned upon their heads. Even as he was being crucified, Jesus was practicing forgiveness. Often in our society we spend much time blaming others and struggle to offer forgiveness. As we read this text we might wonder, what does it feel like to forgive and why would we do it? Desmond learns the power of forgiveness in the story Desmond and the Very Mean Word.  He wants to get the boys back for the means word they’ve said, but doing that only makes his feel worse. When he finally practices forgiveness, he experiences freedom and joy. As we consider shaping our lives under Christ’s reign, may we also experience the freedom that comes in forgiveness.

The Lectionary Links this week were written by regular contributor Noell Rathbun-Cook. This is Noell’s last Links post for Storypath and we are very grateful for her service here over the last three years.

Lectionary Links: Reign of Christ Sunday, November 24, 2013 by Storypath is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.