A Crown of Thorns

Date: Sunday, November 23, 2025 – Reign of Christ - Proper 29 (34)

Readings: Jeremiah 23:1-6 | Luke 1:68-79 | Psalm 46 | Colossians 1:11-20 | Luke 23:33-43

Christ’s reign doesn’t mirror the power structures we’re used to. In a world obsessed with visibility, dominance, and curated influence, Jeremiah’s image of the righteous Branch hits differently. Instead of crushing His enemies, Christ gathers the scattered. Instead of hoarding authority, He restores justice and safety. It’s a reign shaped not by scarcity but by radical abundance. And in a cultural moment marked by political fatigue, digital fatigue, even spiritual fatigue, His kingdom offers a counter‑narrative: rest rooted in righteousness.

As Colossians reminds us, all things hold together in Him. Not algorithms. Not public opinion. Not the frantic pace we mistake for progress. Your life is not sustained by how well you perform but by the One who reigns in love. Maybe that’s the challenge today: to trust a King who refuses to rule the way we would. To yield control where we cling hardest. To let Him gather the scattered pieces of our lives.

Consider where you’re still trying to be your own king. Christ is already reigning over the chaos, over the unknowns, over the parts of your story that don’t yet make sense. The question isn’t whether His reign is real but whether we will live as if it is.

Devotional Prompts:

• Where do you sense God inviting you to trust His reign more deeply?
• What false sources of security do you cling to?
• How might embracing Christ’s kingdom reshape a current struggle?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, reign in our hearts with Your justice and peace. Gather what is scattered, heal what is broken, and teach us to trust Your good and righteous rule. Amen.