Praying Together 23rd November 2025

‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ He replied, ‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’

Next Sunday will be Advent – the beginning of the Church Year. It will instigate the days of reflective preparation for the coming of the Christ, the start of the annual cycle of religious belief. Most of its significance will be lost in the jingaligalling retail frenzy as the world celebrates the Saviour’s birth (at least nominally). But that celebration is incomplete – and in fact pretty meaningless – unless we complete the cycle by also marking and celebrating the final chapter of the story – the crowning of the King of Kings.

The Gospel description of Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection and coronation is remarkably similar to the pattern of the Agricultural year.

‘We plough the fields and scatter’. Plough Sunday is a time especially devoted to asking for God’s blessing on agriculture and industry as we prepare the ground for renewal. The Prophets and John the Baptist promised the coming incarnation of a Messiah, the Christ, who through grace will redeem the world from its sinful past.

At Rogation tide, we plant the seed that will grow to fulfilment and feed the world. In Jesus calling of the first disciples He plants the seed that will germinate and grow to equip them to spread the message of God’s love through their teaching and example.

Lammastide, (in Ireland Lughnasadh), originally ‘Loaf Mass’, is traditionally the day of first fruits – the bread of the new harvest. The fresh New Covenant relaces the misinterpreted and corrupted law, healing the pain of subjection to secular power.

In the late Autumn, at Harvesttime, we give thanks for God’s unfailing provision, and then the nights become darker as the earth becomes silent and rests. Jesus sets His face to Jerusalem and takes His place in the final act of His Passion. It appears that everything dies.

But it doesn’t. Instead, it is death that is defeated. The winter has no lasting power; the lamb triumphs over sin. The harrowing of the old order prepares the way for the new one to begin under His rule, and the crown of Glory is cast upon His head.

The voice from the criminal on the cross is the first to acknowledge Jesus as King forever, and as old year turns to new year, the story is to be told again.

We celebrate the beginning of the story in Advent – but before we do, it is equally important to celebrate the final act of Coronation. The Gospel proclaims that Jesus is King.
…and He is prepared to do it all again, in love.