September 9, 2026

Wednesday Word . . . Window Stories: East Wall

Our final window in this twelve-week series is the small, round window on the east wall above the narthex doors. This window depicts Christ the King in all his glory. While it is tradition that churches lay on an east/west axis with the entry at the west end and the altar at the east end, our parish reverses that orientation (entry at the east end and altar at the west end). This traditional layout comes from the rising sun, the light of Christ, and the dawning of the new day of Resurrection. I would like to believe that someone thought a Christus Rex window on the east wall would compensate for the reversal by having the morning light come through this window to give a holy and royal light.

Christ the King is seated on a large throne and garbed in a white robe with a flowing, red cope. The white robe symbolizes purity, faithfulness, and sinlessness, all images and traits of Christ. He wears a gold crown on his head and a halo can also be seen. There are two symbols of power in each hand.

In his right hand he holds what looks like the holy hand grenade of Antioch. Knowing that can't be the case, it's actually a globus cruciger (literally, cross-bearing orb). Images of Roman rulers would use an orb to signify their dominion over the world. Then, in the 5^th Century, Christian art began using the orb with a cross on it to signify the victory of Christianity over all the world. In this window, then, it symbolizes Christ's dominion over the world.

The left hand of Christ holds a royal scepter, another symbol of authority. The royal scepter symbolizes a person's right to rule, command, and hold sovereign power.

The background of the window is blue with several smaller designs. My guess is that this represents the sky and stars, adding to the story that Christ is not only King of the earth, but of all the universe as well.

For all of this imagery of Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords, ruling with an iron scepter and having dominion over all the earth, it's important to remember that Christ came not as a conquering king but as a helpless child. He came as a lamb that was led to the slaughter. Though he is God, he did not regard that equality with God as something to be exploited, but humbled himself in order to be born as a human. He became obedient to death, and it was through his humble obedience that he achieved greatness. And this is why every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

We must remember that the story of our faith is not that Christ will come to rule not through force, but that he will rule and be victorious through the power of love. The story of our faith rests not on a king who rules through domination and force, but of a King who rules through the power of sacrificial love. The image of Christ the King isn't an image in which to terrorize others, but an image that gives him primacy of place in our own lives.

We all have faith stories to share. What's yours?

Blessings,