Catholic Identity

The upcoming Gospel reading for Sunday: John 18:33-37 

‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Pilate asked. Jesus replied, ‘Do you ask this of your own accord, or have others spoken to you about me?’ Pilate answered, ‘Am I a Jew? It is your own people and the chief priests who have handed you over to me: what have you done?’ Jesus replied, ‘Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews. But my kingdom is not of this kind.’ ‘So you are a king then?’ said Pilate. ‘It is you who say it’ answered Jesus. ‘Yes, I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this: to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.’ 

In this dialogue, Jesus redefines kingship as spiritual, not political, declaring, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Unlike earthly powers, His reign is rooted in truth, justice, and love, challenging us to live as citizens of His eternal kingdom. 

Jesus’ mission to "testify to the truth" invites us to reflect: Do we listen to His voice and let His truth guide our lives, or are we swayed by worldly distractions? This passage calls us to embrace Christ as our King by living out His love, serving others, and seeking His justice in all we do. 

How do you respond to Jesus’ statement that He came to "testify to the truth"? What truth is He calling you to embrace or live out? In what ways can you live as a citizen of Christ’s kingdom in your daily life? 

This artwork reflects the conversation between Jesus and Pilate from John 18:33-37. It captures the contrast between Jesus’ divine authority and Pilate’s earthly power.