Comments On The Gospel Of The Solemnity Of Christ, King Of The Universe
Father Jacques de Longeaux, parish priest of St-Pierre-du-Gros-Caillou parish in Paris, comments on the solemnity of Christ, King of the Universe (Jn 18, 33b-37). If the kingship of Christ is not of this world, it is nevertheless very present:Comments whoever belongs to the truth contributes to gradually extending his kingdom Comments.
We are used to seeing Jesus as our friend, our brother, someone close, full of understanding and mercy. We are, therefore, somewhat taken aback by the texts of the New Testament, which announce the return of Christ in glory and majesty as Judge of the living and the dead and King of the universe. Is our image of Jesus today not rather that of the companion than of the Lord?
We are to be faithful to biblical revelation
Yet we must hold the two together if we are to be faithful to biblical revelation. Jesus walks by our side on our human roads, as he did with the two disciples on the way to Emmaus. He is also the one who stands at the end of the road, the one who stands at the end of history – our personal history as that of all creation. We are on the march towards the glorious Jesus and towards that fulfilment of creation and history were in Him.
His kingship is not of this world.
We are not there yet. In the Gospel of this Sunday (Jn 18, 33b-37), Jesus undergoes an interrogation on behalf of Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. The charge? To claim to be the king of the Jews. Jesus is suspected of wanting to raise the people to overthrow the power in place. To the Cross: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” Our crucifixes reproduce the initials of the four words that make up this inscription: INRI. The kingship of Jesus is displayed on the instrument of his torment. On earth, Jesus had no other throne than the Cross.
Jesus reigns among those who sincerely seek to know and speak the truth.
Jesus answers Pilate that his kingship is not of this world. Let us understand that Jesus is not king in the manner of this world. If he had been, he would have had guards and supporters around him who defended him. Peter tried well All he managed to do was cut off the ear of the servant of the High Priest! A derisory act that shows that the disciples in Gethsemane had not yet understood anything. Jesus commands Peter to sheath his sword. It is not how he is king. Does not claim to take power. He does not seek to impose the law of God by force of arms. He inscribes it in hearts by the grace of the Spirit.
The Kingdom of Truth
Yet Jesus came into the world to announce the coming of the Kingdom of God. ” he times are finished: the reign of God is very near. Convert yourselves and believe in the gospel”. Such is the summary of his preaching ( Mk 1, 15). The miracles he performs are signs that God has begun to dislodge the “prince of this world” from the positions he firmly held. The devil has been a liar from the start. . To know good and evil. The devil is cunning, intriguing, intelligent. By his skilful suggestions, he transforms in the minds of the God of giving into a God of forbidden.
Jesus is straightforward. He says what he heard from his Father, and he accomplishes his will perfectly. Whoever belongs to the truth listens to his voice. Jesus reigns among those who sincerely seek to know and speak the truth.
Vocabulary for kids
A reign that is gradually expanding
At the end of time, when God will be all in all when his light has driven out all the shadowy areas, all the dark recesses of our existence. However, think that the Kingdom of God is only for after, for later. Since Pentecost, it gradually spreads among all peoples, in all societies, at least in the germ stage. the grace of God, who receive and grow in the gift of the Spirit. By their action (for faith acts through charity), these transform social realities toward justice and peace, reconciliation and fraternal love. The Kingdom of God is a spiritual reality that leaves its mark on social realities.
On this feast day, the end of the liturgical year, we humbly recognize that Christ is far from fully reigning in our lives
