LUKE 23:42-43 (Today’s Gospel Reading: Luke 23:35-43)

Jakarta, 20 November 2022 [Solemnity of Christ the King]

A Christian Pilgrim

 

JOHN 18:37 (Today’s Gospel Reading: John 18:33-37)

Jakarta, 21 November 2021 (Solemnity of Christ the King)

A Christian Pilgrim

 

CHRIST THE KING

CHRIST THE KING

(A biblical reflection on the solemnity of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, UNIVERSAL KING [Year B] – Sunday, 21 November 2021)

Gospel Reading: John 18:33-37

First Reading: Daniel 7:13-14; Psalms: Psalm 93:1-2,5; Second Reading: Revelation 1:5-8

The Scripture Text

Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about Me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed You over to me; what have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingship is not of this world; if My kingship were of this world, My servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but My kingship is not from the world.” Pilate said to Him, “So you are a King?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a King. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:33-37 RSV)

When asked by Pilate. “Are you the King of the Jews?”, Jesus replied that He was a King but immediately added that His Kingdom was not of this world (John 18:33,36). Jesus entered into His Kingdom and into His glory when the Father raised Him from the dead, seated Him at His right hand in heaven, and conferred on Him all sovereignty, authority, power, kingship and glory. Christ’s Kingdom, unlike the transient kingdoms of this world, will never pass away. It is immovable, not subject to corruption, decay or conquest.

At the end of time, Jesus will return in glory. Then we shall see Him glorious, majestic, and powerful. His faithful servants shall be joined to Him forever. At that time, all of creation will be subjected to His reign; all will be fulfilled and complete in Him.

The foundation of Jesus’ Kingdom is truth. Jesus bore witness to the truth before Pilate: “For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth” (Jn 18:37). He witnessed to the truth of the eternal reality that is God Himself – God who is holy, pure and good.

In turn, Jesus’ disciples witness to the eternal reality of Christ by proclaiming that He is a King of all creation; that all can enter His Kingdom by bowing down before the holiness and glory of God. They witness by accepting Christ’s rule in their lives and serving Him and His people, in that way advancing God’s Kingdom. Until He comes again, Christ has empowered His disciples to build His Kingdom here on earth. As we work to liberate the weak and the powerless, the oppressed and the exploited, Christ’s Kingdom of justice, peace and love is built up among us.

Pope John Paul II taught about our share in the kingship of Christ: “Because the lay faithful belong to Christ, Lord and King of the universe, they share in His kingly ministry and are called by Him to spread the Kingdom in history. They exercise their kingship as Christians, above all in the spiritual combat in which they seek to overcome in themselves the kingdom of sin, and then to make a gift of themselves so as to serve, in justice and in charity, Jesus who is Himself present in all His brothers and sisters, above all in the very least (Christifideles Laici, 14).

Prayer: Jesus Christ, King of heaven and earth, I do love You, and I want to love you more and more each day. You are my heart’s deepest desire. I consecrate myself to you today. Come, my King, and make me into the person you want me to be. Amen.

Jakarta, 20 November 2021

A Christian Pilgrim

 

He will sit upon His glorious throne: Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ the King [Year A] – Matthew 25:31-46

Jakarta, 26 November 2017

A Christian Pilgrim 

 

CHRIST THE KING

CHRIST THE KING

(A biblical reflection on the SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING [YEAR A] – Sunday, 26 November 2017)

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 25:31-46 

First Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-12,15-17; Psalms: Psalm 23:1-3,5-6; Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26,28 

The Scripture Text

“When the Son of man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. Before Him will be gathered all the nations, and He will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and He will place the sheep at His right hand, but the goats at the left. Then the King will say to those at His right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed Me, I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see Thee a stranger and welcome Thee, or naked and clothe Thee? And when did we see Thee sick or in prison and visit Thee? And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Then He will say to those at His left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave Me no food, I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me,  naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see Thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to Thee? Then He will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to Me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:31-46 RSV) 

The scene in the parable in today’s Gospel reading is the judgment at the end of the world. The parable begins with a reference to the Son of Man coming in His glory. The term “Son of Man” refers to the Messiah, the military/political leader through whom God would rule the world and establish His Kingdom. The Messiah will come in his glory at the end of the world when he will be victorious over all his enemies.

In the parable, Jesus says that the Messiah will sit upon his royal throne and all the nations will assemble before him as he separates them into two groups like a shepherd separates sheep from goats. In Palestine, the shepherd usually allowed the sheep and the goats to graze together but separated them whenever he took them home or moved them to another pasture.

The King/Messiah tells those he places on his right side that he will give them a spot in God’s Kingdom prepared for them since the beginning of the world. According to the Jewish rabbis, God created His Kingdom even before the world began and those He will judge righteous He will reward with everlasting life in this Kingdom while the wicked He will send to a place of fire reserved for the devil and his followers.

Notice that Jesus does not say judgment will be based on how well known or popular a person iss, how much money or power one has, or even where someone worships, but on how the individual responds to those who are in need. By telling us that whenever we do something for others we are really doing it for Him, Jesus identifies Himself with those who are suffering and is saying that to serve God we have to serve each other. We cannot separate our responsibilities to our neighbour from our responsibilities to God.

The parable should make us a little uncomfortable because it means we cannot sit back and expect to enter heaven simply because we believe in Jesus and go to church every Sunday. Jesus demands more from His followers. He demands we live out our faith in service to others. Unless our faith finds expression in visiting the lonely, comforting the grieving, feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked, we cannot expect to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

(Source: Jerome J. Sabatowich, Cycling Through the Gospels – Gospel Commentaries for Cycles A, B, and C, pages 116-117.)

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I adore You as my King! I am thankful that You protect me, care for me, and hear me when I call You. Grant me Your goodness and mercy all the days of my life. May I dwell with You in Your Kingdom forever! Amen.

Jakarta, 24 November 2017 

A Christian Pilgrim

 

CHRIST THE KING: TODAY’S GOSPEL – JOHN 18:33-37

Jakarta, 22 November 2015

A Christian Pilgrim

 

JESUS CHRIST IS OUR KING

JESUS CHRIST IS OUR KING

(A biblical refection on the solemnity of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, UNIVERSAL KING – Sunday, 22 November 2015) 

Gospel Reading: John 18:33-37 

First Reading: Daniel 7:13-14; Psalms: Psalm 93:1-2,5; Second Reading: Revelation 1:5-8 

The Scripture Text

Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about Me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed You over to me; what have You done?” Jesus answered, “My kingship is not of this world; if My kingship were of this world, My servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but My kingship is not from the world.” Pilate said to Him, “So you are a King?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a King. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears My voice.” (John 18:33-37 RSV)

Sometimes historical and political situations have influenced the ways we, Christians, picture Jesus. Thus, when monarchs ruled nations and empires, the popular image people had of Jesus was that of the King of Kings, and image that reminded them that Jesus ruled the universe.

This emphasis on Jesus as a Divine Ruler eventually led the Church to designate the last Sunday of the liturgical year (that’s today) as the Solemnity of Christ the King. Like the other images of Jesus, this image also has biblical support.

In today’s Gospel, Pilate asks Jesus if He is a king and Jesus’ response is that He is indeed a ruler but His Kingdom is not of this world. Elsewhere in the Bible, Jesus tells a parable in which He refers to Himself as a king who separates the good from the bad (Matthew 25:31-46) and, when He rides into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey (Luke 19:28-40), the people treat Him as if He is a royalty. These are only a few examples of passages that speak of Jesus’ kingship.

In biblical times, as today, it was a great honor to be in the presence of the king because he did not give everyone this privilege, and he granted even fewer individuals an audience with him. As the king entered the room, all present bowed their heads and fell to their knees, acknowledging him as their lord and master. Without a sound from anyone, the king then ascended his throne and began to discharge his royal duties.

Because Jesus has become so familiar to us, we sometimes forget that He is our King and we don’t always appreciate how privileged we are to be guaranteed an audience with our King whenever we want one. Unlike earthly kings, we can confidently bring our needs before Jesus’ heavenly throne, knowing He will listen to us and will not turn us away. No earthly king would ever be so accessible to his subjects.

Kings are sometimes addressed as “my lord”. What does the word “lord” mean? What do we mean when we call Jesus “our Lord and Master”? Is Jesus really Lord of your life?

Short Prayer: Jesus Christ, King of heaven and earth, I adore You as my King! I am thankful that You protect me, care for me, and hear me when I call to You. Grant me Your goodness and mercy all the days of my life. May I dwell with You in Your Kingdom forever. Amen.

Jakarta, 20 November 2015 

A Christian Pilgrim