Waking up this morning to the news that the UK’s Prince William is engaged reminded me of the fascination many Americans have with the trappings of royalty. At the same time, Americans have little use for the idea in practice. This is certainly not to say, however, that Americans are not taken with wealth and power.
It’s just that in general, Americans prefer their royalty to be so called self-made men. (And yes, they are usually men.) There is little patience with those who are down on their luck, especially those who find themselves on the streets or, even worse, in jail. Losers!
The Gospel for Christ the King Sunday brings us, not to Buckingham Palace, but to the dirty streets of Jerusalem and the site of a bloody execution. The crucified Christ is not the kind of royalty most Americans find appealing. By all appearances, Jesus is a loser.
Royalty in the context of the cross brings to the forefront the radical reversals that characterized Jesus’ teaching. The reign of God is nothing less than the world and its values turned upside down. With the cross as his throne, Jesus welcomes all his fellow “losers” into the fullness of life.
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