Solemnity of Christ the King
First Reading: Daniel 7:13-14
As
the visions during the night continued, I saw One like a son of man
coming, on the clouds of heaven; When he reached the Ancient One and was
presented before him, He received dominion, glory, and kingship;
nations and peoples of every language serve him. His dominion is an
everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall
not be destroyed.
Second Reading: Revelation 1:5-8
Jesus
Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of
the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our
sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God
and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he
is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who
pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen. "I
am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "the one who is and who
was and who is to come, the almighty."
Gospel Reading: John 18:33-37
Reflection: Fr. Sahaya G. Selvam
In the gospel text of today (Jn 18:33) Pilate asks Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?". Later John would tell us (in Jn 19:14) that the placard that was affixed to the cross to point out to the crime of Jesus read: “This is the King of the Jews.” And All the four gospels are agreed on this interesting detail (Mt 27:37; Mk 15:18; Lk 23:38; Jn 19:14). If we look at the temptations of Jesus that appear early in the synoptic gospels (Mt 4:1-11; Mk 1:12-13; Lk 4:1-13), and more spread out during his public ministry in the gospel of John (Jn 6:15; 6:30-31; 7:3), we see Jesus making a discernment about his kingdom and what type of a king he is going to be.
Jesus has the possibility to be ‘the king of spade’ – using his power to overthrow his enemies. He does not choose this way. He has the option to be ‘the king of diamond’ – using the possibility to possess the whole world and to buy people. He does not give into this. He has the opportunity to be ‘the king of club’– to use his power to perform miracles to preserve himself. He sees this as a temptation. Jesus discerns that the will of his father is that he be ‘the king of hearts.’ He will have to usher in the Kingdom of God through love, by appealing to the hearts of people – a kingdom that will not be brought through revolution, but through the evolution from within through the conversion of hearts. Now, this is going to take time. It will be a slow process. It entails pain and even death. He opts to be the “Suffering Servant.” And that is why, as the gospels describe, he ends up as a King who hangs on the cross.
Jesus has the possibility to be ‘the king of spade’ – using his power to overthrow his enemies. He does not choose this way. He has the option to be ‘the king of diamond’ – using the possibility to possess the whole world and to buy people. He does not give into this. He has the opportunity to be ‘the king of club’– to use his power to perform miracles to preserve himself. He sees this as a temptation. Jesus discerns that the will of his father is that he be ‘the king of hearts.’ He will have to usher in the Kingdom of God through love, by appealing to the hearts of people – a kingdom that will not be brought through revolution, but through the evolution from within through the conversion of hearts. Now, this is going to take time. It will be a slow process. It entails pain and even death. He opts to be the “Suffering Servant.” And that is why, as the gospels describe, he ends up as a King who hangs on the cross.
