The Texts for Sunday, November 22nd, 2015: Christ the King

First Reading: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

 9As I watched,

 thrones were set in place,

  and an Ancient One took his throne,

 his clothing was white as snow,

  and the hair of his head like pure wool;

 his throne was fiery flames,

  and its wheels were burning fire.

 10A stream of fire issued

  and flowed out from his presence.

 A thousand thousands served him,

  and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him.

 The court sat in judgment,

  and the books were opened.

13As I watched in the night visions, 

 I saw one like a human being

  coming with the clouds of heaven.

 And he came to the Ancient One

  and was presented before him.

 14To him was given dominion

  and glory and kingship,

 that all peoples, nations, and languages

  should serve him.

 His dominion is an everlasting dominion

  that shall not pass away,

 and his kingship is one

  that shall never be destroyed.

The Word of the Lord

Psalm: Psalm 93

1 The LORD is King;

he has put on splendid apparel; 

    the LORD has put on his apparel

    and girded himself with strength.

2 He has made the whole world so sure 

    that it cannot be moved;

3 Ever since the world began, your throne has been established; 

    you are from everlasting.

4 The waters have lifted up, O LORD,

the waters have lifted up their voice; 

    the waters have lifted up their pounding waves.

5 Mightier than the sound of many waters,

mightier than the breakers of the sea, 

    mightier is the LORD who dwells on high.

6 Your testimonies are very sure, 

    and holiness adorns your house, O LORD,

    for ever and for evermore.

Second Reading: Revelation 1:4b-8

4bGrace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. 

  To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 7Look! He is coming with the clouds;

  every eye will see him,

 even those who pierced him;

  and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.

So it is to be. Amen.

  8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

The Word of the Lord

Gospel: John 18:33-37

33Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”