On my recent journey to Spain, I was also blessed with the opportunity to stop in Lisbon, where I visited the towering statue of Christ the King. Rising more than one hundred feet high, with arms outstretched, the statue seemed to echo the words of Jesus Himself, “Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
As I stood gazing upward at Christ’s open arms, I was struck by the reminder that His welcome is not limited to those who travel across oceans or who stand before monuments of Him in faraway places. His invitation reaches each one of us, right where we are, in our homes, in our workplaces, in the quiet struggles of our hearts, and in the joys we celebrate. His arms are always open, ready to embrace us with grace, strength, and peace.
The image of Christ the King calls each of us to renew our faith, to trust Him more deeply, and to remember that no matter how far we may wander, His voice still whispers the same invitation, “I am here for you. Believe in Me.”
May we, as a congregation, hear that call today. May our lives reflect the love of Christ who reigns not only over nations, but over our very hearts.
Sanctuary of Christ the King — National Shrine of Christ the King, Manuel V Botelho – Portugal (Wikimedia), 2013
