Christ the King
“Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that 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.”
Overview
Today we celebrate the feast of Christ the King.
The focus of this festival is not on Christ, king of the universe in heavenly glory as shown to us in the reading from Daniel, but on how we follow Christ here on earth and use the power he has given to us.
If Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 gives us a vision of Christ, the human one, being given all power and authority, the gospel, John 18:33-37, uncovers a little of the nature of this power.
Pilate has earthly power, economic, political, social, military. When he questions Christ’s kingship he is pointing out that Christ has no power in this court.
Christ replies that he was born to testify to the truth. And the truth he seeks to tell is the truth of those without power. This truth is always at odds with how the powerful see the world.
We too are called to share in Christ’s “kingship”; God’s power is available to us too. It is the power to speak truth and live truth even when it challenges those with earthly power.
Readings
FIRST READING
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
As I watched,
thrones were set in place,
and an Ancient One took his throne,
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames,
and its wheels were burning fire.
A stream of fire issued
and flowed out from his presence.
A thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him.
The court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.
As I watched in the night visions,
I saw one like a human being
coming with the clouds of heaven.
And he came to the Ancient One
and was presented before him.
To him was given dominion
and glory and kingship,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away,
and his kingship is one
that shall never be destroyed.
GOSPEL
John 18:33-37
Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?”
Jesus answered, “You say that 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.”
