It may come as a bit of a shock on a day devoted to celebrating the kingship of Christ to be confronted with Jesus on the cross. Yet that is the image scripture and the church offer for your contemplation. And contemplation it is.

"Priest, prophet, and king.” These are the titles conferred upon Jesus and upon all those baptized in his name. If given the choice of only one of these titles, most of us would opt for king. Prophets are terribly unpopular people who make a career out of antagonizing others and are consequently prone to violent deaths.

In what has now become a cult classic, A Knight’s Tale, a 2001 movie starring Heath Ledger, tells the story of a young 14th-century English thatcher’s son who is encouraged by his father to “change his stars” by accepting an apprenticeship to a knight.

The celebration of Christ the King helps people to remember to put Christ first in their hearts—and in so doing put others first, too.

Encouraged by God's promise of salvation, let us pray for reconciliation with God and one another.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise, and love.