John 18:33b-37

Daniel 7:13-14

Psalm 93:1, 1-2, 5

Revelation 1:5-8

John 18:33b-37

Pilate said to Jesus,

“Are you the King of the Jews?” 

Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own

or have others told you about me?” 

Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? 

Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me.

What have you done?”

Jesus answered, “My kingdom does not belong to this world.

If my kingdom did belong to this world,

my attendants would be fighting

to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. 

But as it is, my kingdom is not here.”

So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” 

Jesus answered, “You say 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.”

Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, thy Kingdom come! Thy will be done! Give me the Bread of the Kingdom to sustain me as I journey to you. Pour out your mercy upon me and forgive my many sins. Bring me safely through the battle of life into your eternal dwelling.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Trial and Testimony of the King: The Gospel of John gives us an account of Jesus’ trial before Pilate. Pilate thought he had true power and authority over Jesus, but he was gravely mistaken. Pilate reasoned that if Jesus was claiming to be a king – in this case, the “King of the Judeans” – without being appointed so by the Roman emperor, then Jesus was a threat to Roman imperial rule. Little by little, Jesus reveals himself to Pilate as the true King, the one whose Kingdom is in this world, but it is not of this world. “Jesus does not deny his royal mission, but he disassociates it from the political form of government that concerns Pilate. He thus turns the focus toward heaven, where he will be crowned not with gold but with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:9) and where homage is paid to him not in taxes but in worship (John 9:38) and allegiance to the truth (John 8:31-32). The coronation of Jesus begins with his Passion and culminates with his Ascension (Ephesians 1:20-23), from which time his dominion extends over the earth through the preaching and sacramental ministry of the Church (Matthew 28:18-20)” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 196).

2. The Son of Man Received Kingship: In the Book of Daniel, the prophet had a vision of four beasts, which represented four successive kingdoms (Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Greek, Roman). Daniel saw that during the time of the fourth Kingdom, one like a “Son of Man” would be granted royal authority from God, the “Ancient of Days,” and inaugurate this heavenly kingdom on earth. Jesus most often referred to himself as “the Son of Man.” In this way, he calls to mind the prophecy of Daniel 7. Daniel 7:26-27 foretells that the vast dominion of the fourth kingdom will one day be taken away, consumed, and destroyed. “And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. In the Church that Jesus founded, we see the beginning and seed of the Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ is the Son of Man, “who conquered evil and now sits enthroned in heaven, exercising his universal kingship over the world through the Church” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 141). 

3. The King Makes Us into a Kingdom: In the Second Reading, from the Book of Revelation, we contemplate not only the mystery of Jesus Christ as the “ruler of the kings of the earth” but also the mystery of how Jesus transforms us into a kingdom of priests. To live as royal priests was the original vocation of humanity. But Adam and Eve failed. The invitation to be a kingdom of priests was renewed with Israel. But Israel failed. David and his royal sons were priest-kings. But many of David’s sons failed. In Christ, we have become priests, prophets, and kings. He is the faithful Son of God who sacrificed himself to take away our sins, who gives us his grace and Spirit to overcome evil in our lives and live our prophetic, priestly, and royal vocation to the full. We are called to give to God everything over which we have dominion – our lives, our possessions, all that we are – in sacrificial love (see Barber, Coming Soon, 39).

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you are my king! Teach me your ways so that I may serve you faithfully. I am your soldier and will work to extend your reign in this world. Arm me with the sword of the Spirit for battle. Protect me with the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, and the breastplate of righteousness from all evil.

Living the Word of God: How am I living as a prophet? How am I evangelizing and giving witness to Christ in this world? How am I living as a priest? How am I offering all my undertakings as spiritual sacrifices? How am I living my royal calling? How am I overcoming the reign of sin in myself and in the world around me?