REFLECTION
Gospel
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
"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."
John 18: 33-37
Reflection
This coming Sunday, is the very last Sunday of Ordinary Time. It’s the very last Sunday of the whole church year. The following Sunday we start the new year with the season of Advent—getting ready for the birth of Jesus again.
What have we learned? Only you know what you learned. But I can tell you what the church has tried to teach us in our year-long journey.
Its’ right there in the name of this last Sunday of the church’s year:
“Christ the King,” or “the Reign of Christ".
In this gospel reading Pilate asked Jesus," Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus never let his identity, action, or truth doing be determined by where he was or who he was with. Instead he brought his identity, action, and truth doing to every place he went, every person he met, and every circumstance he faced. Who he was here is who he was over there. That’s how I want to live, don’t you?
Our struggle for authenticity and integrity is the struggle to reclaim ourselves. It’s the way of healing and wholeness, and it’s always a work in process. Every place we go, every person we meet, every circumstance we face holds before us questions of our authenticity and integrity.
- Who do I say that I am? and
- Am I really who I say I am?
I wonder what it would take today for you and me to answer that second question, “Yes, more than I was yesterday,” and live just a bit more comfortably in our own skin.
Julie Leonard Religious Education Leader/Wellbeing Leader