OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE
22 NOVEMBER 2015
When
Pilate asks Jesus if he is a king, he speaks from the perspective of his
kingdom. In Pilate’s kingdom, privilege,
comfort, and prestige are very important.
Pilate enjoys all of these perks, because he has been appointed by
Caesar to exercise power and domination over the people under his thumb. If Jesus answers “yes,” Pilate can have him
executed, as a threat to Caesar. If
Jesus answers “no,” Pilate can let him go.
But the
kingdom of Jesus is very different from that of Pilate. Jesus does not answer Pilate’s question. Instead, he asks a question: “Do you say this on your own or have others
told you about me?” When Pilate responds
that he is not a Jew and that Jesus’ own people have handed him over, he wants
to know what Jesus has done. Jesus then
explains to Pilate what Saint John had told us at the very beginning of the
Gospel. Jesus has come into the world to
testify to God’s truth. God’s truth
establishes a kingdom marked by love, justice, and humble service; not
dominion, privilege, power, or prestige.
Because
Pilate is so immersed in the values of his kingdom, he cannot see the truth
standing right before him. Instead, he
sees a bloodied, beaten peasant. Even
though Pilate knows the truth that this man is innocent, he will condemn him to
a humiliating and painful death. From
the comfort of his governor’s palace, Pilate will move on to other matters of
state in his kingdom. Pilate does not
know that God will transform this dark death into the bright light of the
resurrection, revealing the truth of God’s incredible love.
Throughout
this Liturgical Year, the Scripture readings have invited us to reflect on the
truth of Jesus Christ. They have
revealed him as the Way, the Truth, and the Light. On this final Sunday, the Book of Revelation
reminds us that Jesus Christ loves us now.
Saint John had originally written these words to Christians facing death
and persecution by a kingdom which Pontius Pilate would recognize
immediately. He has atoned for our sins
by his death on the cross. He has
redeemed us through the mystery of the resurrection.
That kingdom is still alive and
well in our world. The recent scourge of
terrorist attacks reminds us that there are still ruthless individuals who will
use any means for power and domination.
The fear generated by these violent acts can cloud our vision of the
truth of the victory already won for us by Jesus Christ, our King. That same fear can also cause us to abandon
our care and concern for vulnerable people who need our help. As we enter the “holiday season,” the
materialism of our culture can prevent us from seeing the truth about
Jesus. Instead of focusing on the Lord’s
presence in our families gathered for Thanksgiving, we might be drawn instead
to the good deals of Black Friday.
Instead of recognizing the truth of seeing the Lord in the people we
might serve, we can think only of our own comfort and security.
Next
Sunday, we begin a new Liturgical Year and enter into the Season of Advent, to
begin again our annual preparation to look for the ways in which our Lord comes
to us in truth. Just as these years come
and go, so will the kingdom of Pontius Pilate.
His particular kingdom ended a long time ago, and the values of that
kingdom will end for us also. Jesus
Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end of all
existence. When we were baptized, we
were incorporated into his Body as priests, prophets, and kings. Sharing the kingship of Jesus Christ, we can
renew our efforts to see the truth standing right before our eyes. It is that truth which enables us to separate
those things that pass away from those things that last. It is that truth which enables us to live in
a dangerous and violent world without fear.
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