JASON'S REFLECTIONS
This passage in Ephesians is personally one of the most feel-good passages that I can find in the non-Gospel parts of the New Testament. When I read the words "The immeasurable greatness of his [Christ's] power for us who believe," I can't help but feel on the one hand that I have some special super power because I put all of my devotion and trust in the one whom God has made, in effect, CEO of the universe.
But on the other hand, there's something about the analogous depiction of Jesus as a "king" or a "CEO" that I have some discomfort with. Maybe it has something to do with my experiences of seeing (flawed) men and women use the power that they were duly given not to humbly lead an outfit toward achieving its vision and mission; but rather to abuse the trust and privileges that inherently come with the office for their own personal benefit - often at the detriment of the organization. In other words, I have seen a lot of crappy leaders out there.
This Sunday, the final day of Ordinary Time (aka, the season after Pentecost), is often referred to as Christ the King Sunday (and undoubtedly it is the reason why we are reading this very royal passage from Ephesians this week). What is kind of fascinating, however, about this feast day is that we have been celebrating it for a relatively short amount of time in the liturgical calendar: it wasn't even officially recognized by liturgical churches until 1925. And I have it on a reliable source that the political and theological impetus for its institution was the aftermath of WWI, the failure of leadership, and the critical reminder of Christ's ultimate kingship.
I can't in a timely manner corroborate that last detail, but what it helps me as a Christian to remember is this: to not evaluate the concept of Jesus "as king" through my personal experiences and knowledge of flawed leadership but to always be evaluating my own leadership and impact on others through the leadership paradigm of Jesus and the example of his sacrificial life of love. And that gives me hope, and it makes me feel good; because it reminds me of the still ongoing "immeasurable greatness of his power" as Christ leads me, us, and his Church in the power of love.
Amen.
