Church junkies know that on the ecclesiastical calendar, this marks the last Sunday of the liturgical year. The liturgical year is, of course, different from the calendar year. The liturgical year begins with Advent, the time we set aside for reflection about the coming of Christ. Advent is followed by Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost. Some churches intersperse periodically what is designated as "Ordinary Time," those times we remember the work of God and the life and ministry of Jesus apart from special times of celebration. So we travel from the Lord's miraculous birth to his death and resurrection, with all the appropriate stops in between and even beyond, and culminate the journey with our most basic affirmation of faith: Jesus Christ is Lord!

Christ the King Sunday is…