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The highest point of today’s Gospel is the conversation between our Lord
and Pilate. Pilate was the ambassador of Rome. His palace, his garb, his behavior
radiated the power of the Roman Empire. Jesus was…let us say an itinerant
preacher, a carpenter a very simple
person at the sight of the world. There was nothing about him that would throw
a powerful man in fear. Jesus held no titles; he was not supported by an army.
He didn’t even wear shield or carry a sword. So here was this weak and poor Jesus,
standing before the powerful Pilate. Was Pilate mocking Jesus or intrigued when
he asked him, Are you a king? We
don’t really know. But we do know Jesus’ answer: You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the
world, to testify to the truth[1].
To testify to the truth. That is what true royalty is about, so this solemnity of
Christ the King is a good moment to reflect about testifying to the truth, about integrity, the same topic that we
talked about few weeks ago. I am sure many of you remember…
There is a great scene in the great
movie A Man for All Seasons that fits
so well here. You might remember that the movie was about the determination of
St. Thomas More to stand for the faith against the persecution of King Henry
VIII. Well, in the scene I’m referring to, after the King made all his
arguments, Thomas More said that he himself was unfit to intervene in this argument
and the King should take it to Rome. Henry VIII retorted that he didn’t need a
pope to tell him what he could or couldn’t do. Then we come to the center
point. Thomas More asks the King, “Why do you need my support?” Henry VIII
replies with words we would all love to hear said about each of us, “Because,
Thomas, you are honest. And what is more to the point, you are known to be
honest. There are plenty in the Kingdom who support me, but some do so only out
of fear and others only out of what they can get for their support. But you are
different. And people know it. That is why I need your support.”[2]
In the presence of integrity, Henry
VIII knew who was King and who was subject.
Thomas More, John Fisher, Maximilian
Kolbe and so many others followed Jesus Christ in being people of integrity. The powerful Pilate could have Jesus tortured
and killed, and he did in fact, but Pilate himself remained a prisoner because
he lived a lie. And Jesus remained a
King because he testified to the truth to his last breath.
Then you are a King? Pilate asked, and Jesus answered, you say that I am a king. For this was I born...to testify to the truth[3].
This gospel, this solemnity of Christ
the King reminds us that each of us was born for this same reason, to testify to the truth. And what is
the truth? Jesus Christ is the truth, and the way, and the life[4],
as we know very well…
So as we leave this liturgical year, we
might leave wondering, how can I enter into the kingship Christ gives me? And
the Gospel gives the answer.
On this last day of the church year
then, take time to think about your own life. How disordered has our life been?
Have we been placing too much effort in the wrong places? And don’t get
discouraged, don’t be disappointed, because we have the shepherd watching over
us, helping us on to the right paths, caring for us and providing for us.
His message is simple: “put your hope
in him, and think about others” and that is how you will reach the kingdom of
heaven at the end of your time on earth.
That is the GOOD NEWS of the Gospel today!■
