Last Friday, the world witnessed a spectacle that was unlikely to be a surprise to anyone: 58-year-old Mike Tyson, the former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, stepped into the ring and proved he’s no longer the “baddest man on the planet.” While 27-year-old Jake Paul walked away with the unanimous decision, the fight lacked the razzle-dazzle of Tyson’s glory days under his flamboyant promoter, Don King. Remember King? With his electrified hair and larger-than-life persona, he gave us legendary bouts like the “Rumble in the Jungle” and the “Thrilla in Manila.” King was synonymous with boxing’s golden age, pairing icons like Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, and Larry Holmes. Today, his promotions are relegated to the vault of nostalgia.
Meanwhile, another kind of show unfolded last weekend at Madison Square Garden, where President-elect Donald Trump attended an Ultimate Fighting Championship bout. On the flight home, he reportedly pressured his newly designated Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to partake in a McDonald’s junk food feast—just days after Kennedy publicly criticized his boss-to-be’s eating habits. One can only imagine Kennedy would have preferred McDonald’s rival Burger King, with its slogan promising, “Have it your way.” Alas, the King lost out to some not-so-Happy Meals.
It seems the influence of “kings” is waning everywhere. Across the pond, King Charles III waited 73 years for his crown, only to find his reign overshadowed by nostalgia for Queen Elizabeth II’s 70-year legacy. Even Kevin James’s sitcom persona Doug, the self-proclaimed “King of Queens,” was clearly outmatched by his on-screen wife, Carrie. Closer to home, King Kullen, once a titan of Long Island supermarkets (and the country’s first supermarket), now operates a modest 25 stores. And let’s not forget the upcoming release of a new Lion King (did I mention that?) Will Mufasa still hold court, or has the pride shifted?
Nearly a century ago, Pope Pius XI observed another trend: the diminishing reverence for the ultimate King of Kings, Jesus Christ. In 1925, amid Europe’s recovery from the Great War and the rise of fascism, the Pope instituted Christ the King Sunday to reaffirm Christ’s supreme authority. Originally observed in October, the Feast was later moved to the final Sunday of the liturgical year following Vatican II, aligning with the Church’s mission to foster unity among Christians.
This Sunday, November 24, marks the final week of the church year and the celebration of Christ the King Sunday. Join us at 9:30 AM as we praise the one true King—the eternal Savior, Jesus Christ, whose reign endures when all earthly crowns crumble. See you there!
Blessings,
Pastor Marc
Rev. Marc Herbst
Pastor
St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
36 East John Street
Lindenhurst, NY 11757
