The solemnity of Christ the King
November 25, 2018
John 18:33-37
“You say 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 (John 18:37).”
Our Liturgical Year ends with a drama of two kings: Pilate and Jesus. Pilate was representing the superpower nation in those times, the Roman Empire. So massive in its military domination and so ruthless in its conquests are Rome with her mighty legions. Kingdoms bent their knees in homage to Caesar, the king of kings. Pilate embodied this culture of intimidation and violence. He was a notoriously brutal leader, who stole from his subjects and executed people even without a trial. Surely, he thought of himself as the powerful ‘king’ of Jerusalem and anyone who stood on his way, would be destroyed.
We are constantly tempted to belong to this kingdom. A husband refuses to listen to his wife and forces his wills in the family through his physical superiority. Insecure with themselves, bigger and tougher guys bully the smaller and weaker kids in a school. Sadly, it takes place not only in school but almost everywhere: family, workplace, society and even cyberspace. The boss intimidates his employees. The government leaders violently suppress any critical voices no matter correct they may be. In the height of his dictatorship, Joseph Stalin bullied the Church saying, “How many division of tank does the Pope have?” Machiavelli, an Italian philosopher, even once concluded that the orderly society is built upon fear and violence.
However, we have Jesus, the King. But, what kind of king he is? If He is a king, why does he never put on any royal crown, except the crown of thorns forcefully embedded on his head (Mat 27:29)? If He is a king, why does he have no imperial throne except the germ-plagued manger of Bethlehem and the ghastly wood of the cross (Luk 2:7 and Mark 15:30)? If He is a king, why does he control no formidable army, except the disbanded group of naïve followers: one of them sold him for 30 pieces of silver, a price of a slave, another denied Him for three times and the rest ran for their lives? Is Jesus really a king?
Reading our today’s Gospel closely, Jesus says that His kingdom is not of this world. This means that His kingdom does not conform to the standards of this world. It is not built upon military power, forceful domination, or bloody war. Thus, He is king with no golden crown, and his kingdom has no single army. Jesus further reveals that He comes to testify to the truth (John 18:37), and indeed, He is the Truth Himself (John 14:6). He is the king that rules the kingdom of truth, and his subjects are those listen and witness to the truth. His is the Kingdom that turns upside down the values of the earthly kingdom. It is not built upon deceit, coercion, or clever political maneuvers, but upon mercy, justice and honesty. It embodies the genuine love for others even the enemies, service to everyone especially to the poor, and true worship of God.
At the end of the liturgical year, it is providential that the Church chooses this reading for us to contemplate. From the entire liturgical year, we come to the Church and listen to the scriptural readings especially the Gospel. We listen to Jesus Himself, and we are confronted with various aspects of this one Truth. Now, it is time for us to decide whether we become part of the kingdom of Pilate, or we listen to the Truth and follow Jesus.
Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP