John 18: 33-37
This feast has a clear and formidable message for us. It also has significant function in our liturgical year.
In the Gospel of John, the story of Jesus and Pilate is one of the most important parts of the Passion narrative. It involves seven different scenes.
One dimension of the story is that Jesus is defined as king in contrast to the earthly leaders. Their position is rooted in status, exclusiveness, rings and robes, expressions of wealth and power, titles and the ability to manipulate everything and everybody to their own advantage. Jesus’ kingship is designated by the call to testify to the truth, to serve, to be free in poverty and lack of recognition, to give the final measure of love to all decisions. In his kingship, everything comes from God and leads to God.
Jesus offers the clearest expression of this kingship before the soldiers at the time of the scourging and mockery. Jesus had said clearly, “My kingdom does not belong to this world.” (Jn 18:36) Jesus is pulling together the total message of his ministry and life. He is inviting us to receive all his teachings through the lens of his kingship before the soldiers and on the cross.
We can see in Pilate one who clearly rejected Jesus. It is a challenge to us to open ourselves to the Kingdom of God. This is a plea to personal transformation in the footsteps of Jesus. We are summoned to accept a new meaning of power and greatness. We are called to an ever-expanding mandate of service to all. We are beckoned to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus in both prayer and service. Jesus’ Kingdom is a journey of love.
Today’s celebration concludes our journey with the Gospel of Mark. These last few weeks have challenged us to face the end times as a truly meaningful part of our human condition. Next week, we begin a new year with the reflection on the very same end times but through the wonder of Jesus coming in power and glory, tenderness and compassion in our Advent Season.
Today’s feast is a bridge for this powerful reflection on the end times and the coming of the Lord. Jesus, as King of the Universe, guides us in confidence and hope to the new day that is described in the Preface of today’s feast:
“By offering himself on the altar of the Cross as a spotless sacrifice to bring peace he might accomplish the mysteries of human redemption and, making all created things subject to his rule, he might present to the immensity of your majesty an eternal and universal kingdom, a kingdom of truth and life, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love and peace.”
