Rev. Misa Furumoto
Sermon for the Last Sunday before Advent, Year C. @ St. Agnes’ international congregation
Luke 23:32-43
Today is the last Sunday before Advent, which means the final Sunday of our liturgical year. From next Sunday, a new year starts. Isn’t it too fast? Wait, please stop, I’m not ready yet. I always think this way when this time of the year comes. But it comes anyway.
This Sunday is also called Christ the King Sunday. It is time to remember that Christ our savior who died for us, who is risen and who will come again is the true king, the king of kings, the one who reigns the kingdom of God.
What is our image of a king? We’ve seen a similar image recently through the series of ceremonies for our country’s new emperor of Reiwa. The emperor and the empress are placed somewhat above the clouds, so very far away from us. They are to be the symbol of peace era, and the crowd happily shouted at them “banzai”. What kind of peace are they making in this world, I wonder? Is it in any way close to the kingdom of God which we all await?
In the meantime, I have seen a little piece of the kingdom of God the other day. Last week, St. Agnes’ School next door where I serve as a chaplain, celebrated Thanksgiving Day. Students and teachers brought along rice, vegetables, canned food, dried food from home. And we shared them with several soup kitchens a few for children and one for the homeless.
This is a story when I delivered the food to a soup kitchen for the homeless in Osaka, the place called Kamagasaki district, the traditional home of hundreds and thousands of day laborers. The soup kitchen was closed that day, and I was talking with the lady who was in charge of the kitchen. Then a man suddenly opened the door and yelled at us furiously. He was so angry with the five persimmons he purchased there the previous day. He was told that they were sweet, but no, they were terribly astringent, “shibugaki”.
He showed us a persimmon which was largely bitten off with the skin on and said “How dare you sell these terrible persimmons to us! You don’t know how terrible they taste. You bite it too then you will know!” The lady, the manager of the kitchen apologized him many times and quickly gave him back the money he paid, saying “I’m sorry, I had no idea that they were astringent persimmons. I know how terrible they taste. But of course, let me share with you the unbearable taste that you had to experience.” And she took the astringent persimmon from the man’s hand, rubbed it lightly with her sleeve, and took a big bite of it just as he did, with its skin on. What happened? Of course, she screamed. “Oh, no! This is terrible! It will stay in my mouth all day long!” And they both laughed together cheerfully.
Looking at them I was just so shocked and wondered if I could do the same thing if I were she. I would probably just apologize and return the money and say good-by. But the lady there actually shared the man’s pain. There I saw the Peace of Christ, Peace of Christ the King.
Jesus left us words of promise. “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” To whom did Jesus say this? To a criminal who was put to death for what he had done. How did Jesus deliver these words to him? On the cross. Just as the criminal was put on. With the nails in their hands and feet, sharing the same intolerable pain with the criminal, He said, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” This is our savior, Christ the king.
In a month, Christmas comes, and we will read again our favorite Christmas story. To the shepherds in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night, the angel says, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Again, who were the first ones who heard this great news? Shepherds, who were absolute outcast of society. How was this Savior, the Messiah born? As a baby wrapped in bands of cloth and laid in a manger. Laid in a manger, in a dark, smelly, dirty crib. Why there? Because that was the place where the shepherds could come.
Jesus is always with us, from the beginning to the end. No matter how we are, no matter how bad, how sinful, how poor, how unable, He is with us. He shares the pain we have, the sorrow we feel, the suffering and burden we bear. This is our King, our Savior, Christ Jesus.
When we know how He is like and when we are filled with His love and grace, we will be changed. Advent is coming. Let us be humble, know our weakness and sinfulness, and prepare for the birth of our king who will always abide with us.
Sermon for the Last Sunday before Advent, Year C. @ St. Agnes’ international congregation
Luke 23:32-43
Today is the last Sunday before Advent, which means the final Sunday of our liturgical year. From next Sunday, a new year starts. Isn’t it too fast? Wait, please stop, I’m not ready yet. I always think this way when this time of the year comes. But it comes anyway.
This Sunday is also called Christ the King Sunday. It is time to remember that Christ our savior who died for us, who is risen and who will come again is the true king, the king of kings, the one who reigns the kingdom of God.
What is our image of a king? We’ve seen a similar image recently through the series of ceremonies for our country’s new emperor of Reiwa. The emperor and the empress are placed somewhat above the clouds, so very far away from us. They are to be the symbol of peace era, and the crowd happily shouted at them “banzai”. What kind of peace are they making in this world, I wonder? Is it in any way close to the kingdom of God which we all await?
In the meantime, I have seen a little piece of the kingdom of God the other day. Last week, St. Agnes’ School next door where I serve as a chaplain, celebrated Thanksgiving Day. Students and teachers brought along rice, vegetables, canned food, dried food from home. And we shared them with several soup kitchens a few for children and one for the homeless.
This is a story when I delivered the food to a soup kitchen for the homeless in Osaka, the place called Kamagasaki district, the traditional home of hundreds and thousands of day laborers. The soup kitchen was closed that day, and I was talking with the lady who was in charge of the kitchen. Then a man suddenly opened the door and yelled at us furiously. He was so angry with the five persimmons he purchased there the previous day. He was told that they were sweet, but no, they were terribly astringent, “shibugaki”.
He showed us a persimmon which was largely bitten off with the skin on and said “How dare you sell these terrible persimmons to us! You don’t know how terrible they taste. You bite it too then you will know!” The lady, the manager of the kitchen apologized him many times and quickly gave him back the money he paid, saying “I’m sorry, I had no idea that they were astringent persimmons. I know how terrible they taste. But of course, let me share with you the unbearable taste that you had to experience.” And she took the astringent persimmon from the man’s hand, rubbed it lightly with her sleeve, and took a big bite of it just as he did, with its skin on. What happened? Of course, she screamed. “Oh, no! This is terrible! It will stay in my mouth all day long!” And they both laughed together cheerfully.
Looking at them I was just so shocked and wondered if I could do the same thing if I were she. I would probably just apologize and return the money and say good-by. But the lady there actually shared the man’s pain. There I saw the Peace of Christ, Peace of Christ the King.
Jesus left us words of promise. “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” To whom did Jesus say this? To a criminal who was put to death for what he had done. How did Jesus deliver these words to him? On the cross. Just as the criminal was put on. With the nails in their hands and feet, sharing the same intolerable pain with the criminal, He said, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” This is our savior, Christ the king.
In a month, Christmas comes, and we will read again our favorite Christmas story. To the shepherds in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night, the angel says, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”
Again, who were the first ones who heard this great news? Shepherds, who were absolute outcast of society. How was this Savior, the Messiah born? As a baby wrapped in bands of cloth and laid in a manger. Laid in a manger, in a dark, smelly, dirty crib. Why there? Because that was the place where the shepherds could come.
Jesus is always with us, from the beginning to the end. No matter how we are, no matter how bad, how sinful, how poor, how unable, He is with us. He shares the pain we have, the sorrow we feel, the suffering and burden we bear. This is our King, our Savior, Christ Jesus.
When we know how He is like and when we are filled with His love and grace, we will be changed. Advent is coming. Let us be humble, know our weakness and sinfulness, and prepare for the birth of our king who will always abide with us.