Gospel 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.”
Homily
I recently saw a few times a western of which I have grown very fond. It is ‘Fort Apache’ starring John Wayne. In it Wayne plays the role of a rather non-conformist captain of the Cavalry serving under a very strict commanding officer. During a battle with the Apaches, this commanding officer who has been wounded tells Wayne that he will one day be commanding officer and that when that day arrives he should “command.” I thought of that film as I began preparing for the meditation of this weekend because the commanding officer of that regiment can be substituted for the earthly kings of which Jesus spoke and whose attitude he warned his disciples about. When James and John asked to sit at his right and left hand in the Kingdom, Jesus told his disciples, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;…” (Mtt. 20, 25 – 27)
The attitude and behaviour of disciples of Jesus create a way of being that is totally different to that of others who are not disciples of Jesus. Authentic disciples of Jesus think and behave differently to disciples of this world. That is why Jesus could say to Pilate, “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.” What then are the characteristics of the Kingdom of Jesus to which as disciples we belong and how do we defend our King? The prime characteristic of the Kingdom of Jesus is that of servanthood. We recall the words of Jesus; “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.” The truth of the world is that human beings are all sons and daughters of the same loving Father who created us and put the created world into our hands because God loves us. The truth is that when we his sons and daughters disobeyed him, he immediately promised us a redeemer, someone who would come to repair the disobedience and restore us to the dignity of sons and daughters of God. Sons and daughters of God who are meant to live in the restored harmony which was lost because of our first disobedience. The only difference is that while humanity first lived in harmony given to us as gift, now we have to conquer the divisions which affect us. These divisions, brought about by sin can only be overcome by living the values of Jesus who was raised on high to gather all who are scattered. This means overcoming the temptations to power and its trappings, it means overcoming the desire to be served and following in the footsteps of the Master who came not to be served but to serve and give his life for others. That is why Jesus tells his disciples; “…whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave;” When this happens we know that God’s Kingdom is in our midst.
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This is the truth to which Jesus testifies, this the truth which authentic disciples of Jesus hear. It is this truth which they seek to live. It is this truth which characterizes their lives. It is this truth which is the most potent sign of the Kingdom.
In the history of the Church many persons have understood this. All the saints did. Their lives reflected this truth. Blessed Teresa of Calcutta became the servant of those living and dying on the streets of Calcutta; Blessed Oscar Romero did everything that he could for the peasants and landless people of El Salvador; Don Bosco did likewise for street children in Turin, giving everything he had for them. These saints and many like them made the world a better place and gave the world a little bit more of the characteristics of the Kingdom. We now await that day when the values and characteristics of the Kingdom will be more widespread than those of the world.
May Jesus Christ our King be praised now and forever. Amen.
Prayer
All powerful and ever-loving God, your son Jesus is our King. If we follow the truth which his mouth proclaims, we will have a different world. Help us dear Father to live the values which he proclaimed so that the Kingdom may begin to be more manifest in our midst. Give us the courage to face all who proclaim other values; Let us be characterized by the power of your love. We ask this through the intercession of Mary our mother and Jesus your Son. Amen
