Jesus’ vision of glory is really a humble one. His kingly activity is not concerned with parading around royally, or associating with the powerful or wealthy, or affiliating himself with military might and authority. The pronouncements made from his throne are not ones issued for the sake of protecting his own power. Instead, he is concerned with one question in particular: How do the vulnerable fare?

As we celebrate Christ the King at the end of another church year, we are challenged to see an expression of political power that is far different from that which makes our governments tick. Jesus welcomes his followers into an alternative way of life, one that puts love of neighbor at the center of our daily actions.

To get a sense of how the vulnerable have fared on our watch, we could look at our national and local budgets, government policies, advocacy efforts, social interactions, even our charitable contributions. At the heart of Jesus’ teaching is an invitation to see one’s neighbor with renewed vision. There is an expectation when honoring Jesus’ sovereignty that our attention turn outward, away from ourselves. Similarly, the celebration of the Lord’s supper redirects our attention toward Christ and our neighbor.

When we receive the meal, we are not coming forward for a private snack. Instead, we come as people who are shaped by this gift of God. In this gift Christ himself reminds us of the common need we have, and as we partake in the meal, we are invited to see it as a central expression of Christ’s reign. In so doing, our idea of neighbor expands and we rehearse an economy that God desires, one in which vulnerable people matter. We share this meal with God’s family throughout history and around the world. And this is how the kingdom comes.