Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
November 22, 2024 at 9:29 a.m.
In Sunday’s Gospel we are privy to a conversation between Pilate and Jesus. The conversation is Pilate asking Jesus about His kingship and His kingdom. As we read and reflect on this Gospel, we must remember that Jesus speaks to Pilate very clearly about His kingdom not being of this world, and that it is Pilate who says he is a king.
When we think about Kings in our world today and in history, how many of them would have spoken about their kingdom and kingship the way Jesus does? Not very many, if any at all. While today we see Kings and Queens as primarily figureheads and in ceremonial roles, in Jesus’s time and after, Kings were the politicians of the day so to speak and their words were law.
When Jesus speaks of His kingdom He is not speaking of some country or area that He rules in and over, He is speaking about a kingdom revealed to all believers, those baptized and all willing to listen and be open. He speaks of a kingdom of justice, love, peace, and joy. A kingdom that is not of this world but is in this world. A kingdom that is already here (though not yet in completion) and a king who invites us lovingly to be a part of this kingdom.
As a king, Jesus’s rule reaches into the heart. Whose heart? Yours and mine if we allow it to. That is very different than kings today and those in the time of Jesus. This is why He came into our world, for the sake of our salvation, to know Him and not just know about Him.
Jesus tells us that He came into this world “to testify to the truth”. Jesus wants you and I to know the truth and to live in it. The truth is not a statement, it is a person and that person is Jesus.
This Gospel is also a reminder to us all that God is in control, that Christ is King and He reigns! That Jesus asks us to keep Him at the center of our hearts and lives so that He is known and revealed, and His kingdom is known here on earth.
May this truth, Jesus, live within our hearts and lead us all our days. May we have the courage to stand up for the truth in our daily lives like Jesus does with Pilate and may we always belong to the truth, Jesus, and listen to His voice!
Related Stories
Friday, November 22, 2024
E-Editions
Events
In Sunday’s Gospel we are privy to a conversation between Pilate and Jesus. The conversation is Pilate asking Jesus about His kingship and His kingdom. As we read and reflect on this Gospel, we must remember that Jesus speaks to Pilate very clearly about His kingdom not being of this world, and that it is Pilate who says he is a king.
When we think about Kings in our world today and in history, how many of them would have spoken about their kingdom and kingship the way Jesus does? Not very many, if any at all. While today we see Kings and Queens as primarily figureheads and in ceremonial roles, in Jesus’s time and after, Kings were the politicians of the day so to speak and their words were law.
When Jesus speaks of His kingdom He is not speaking of some country or area that He rules in and over, He is speaking about a kingdom revealed to all believers, those baptized and all willing to listen and be open. He speaks of a kingdom of justice, love, peace, and joy. A kingdom that is not of this world but is in this world. A kingdom that is already here (though not yet in completion) and a king who invites us lovingly to be a part of this kingdom.
As a king, Jesus’s rule reaches into the heart. Whose heart? Yours and mine if we allow it to. That is very different than kings today and those in the time of Jesus. This is why He came into our world, for the sake of our salvation, to know Him and not just know about Him.
Jesus tells us that He came into this world “to testify to the truth”. Jesus wants you and I to know the truth and to live in it. The truth is not a statement, it is a person and that person is Jesus.
This Gospel is also a reminder to us all that God is in control, that Christ is King and He reigns! That Jesus asks us to keep Him at the center of our hearts and lives so that He is known and revealed, and His kingdom is known here on earth.
May this truth, Jesus, live within our hearts and lead us all our days. May we have the courage to stand up for the truth in our daily lives like Jesus does with Pilate and may we always belong to the truth, Jesus, and listen to His voice!