This Sunday is the last Sunday of the liturgical calendar year. It is referred to as the “Reign of Christ” Sunday, but it has also been called “Christ the King” Sunday. Our passage this week inspires us to think carefully about the notion of Christ as “king.” When Jesus was brought by the Jewish leaders to Pilate for punishment, Pilate asked him, “Are you king of the Jews?” Jesus doesn’t explicitly answer him, but he says that his kingdom is not of this world.

As we reflect on the past year and prepare for the Advent season of a new year, it may be helpful to ask ourselves how we see our relationship with Christ. Do we follow Christ in our daily lives? In the last couple of weeks, we have talked about the gifts we have received from God and our role as stewards. This week we will reflect on the gifts we give back to God, what it means to follow Christ, and how we view our relationship with Christ.