Today we have a short Gospel containing a message that reaches through to the lives of every Christian on the planet.
For today, we celebrate the great feast of Christ the Universal King. And what more succinct a way can we ponder on the kingship of Jesus than to dial into his trial, persecution and death? At the very centre of his greatness is humility, which saw him overcome death for all his subjects: for us.
Many of us struggle incredibly with humility. Yet Jesus showed us how to be humble in a strong way, how to be a person of humility to a degree that promotes great strength.
The word is integrity. At his trial, Pontius Pilate asked Jesus if he was indeed king. Where is our answer, were Pilate to ask us if we think Jesus is a King? Do we simply reply ‘Yes’ because that’s what we are taught? Or is our ‘Yes’ born from a life of love for God, inspired by the Gospel? Are we ready to let our lives be driven by grace? If so, we must be ready to become humble.
Jesus is indeed king. Let us take on what made Christ the King, by following the will of the Father, and by listening and responding to the humility of Jesus in the way he has taught us.
GOSPEL
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 18:33-37
Glory to you, O Lord.
Pilate asked Jesus: Are you the king of the Jews?‘
Jesus replied, ‘Do you ask this of your own accord, or have others spoken to you about me?’
Pilate answered,
‘Am I a Jew? It is your own people and the chief priests who have handed you over to me: what have you done?’
Jesus replied,
‘Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world,
my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews.
But my kingdom is not of this kind.’
‘So, you are a king then? said Pilate.
‘It is you who say it,’ answered Jesus.
‘Yes, I am a king. I was born for this,
I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth;
and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.’
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.