SET-2: Season of the Dedication of the Church
Fourth Sunday JOHN 18:33-37
MESSIAH THE KING
INTRODUCTION
On the last Sunday of the liturgical calendar, we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King. As members of the Church, we are part of the Kingdom of God that Jesus founded and oversees. Salvation history will culminate in the enthronement of Jesus as the “King of kings and Lord of lords” by the Father (Rev 19:16). When the high priests questioned Jesus in the Sanhedrin, their main accusation against him was blasphemy. However, when they referred him to Pilate for capital punishment, they presented him as a rebel “king of Jews” against the Romans. Hence, the dialogue between Jesus and Pilate centred on Jesus’ kingship. He acknowledged his kingship to Pilate, but clarified that it was a kingship of a different world (Jn 18:36). Jesus said to his disciples: “You do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world” (Jn 15:19). Let us acknowledge the glorious sacrifice of our redeemer, who has chosen us to be citizens of his divine kingdom. We must remain dedicated to his leadership to gain entrance into the fullness of his kingdom.
BIBLE TEXT: JOHN 18:33-37
Messiah the King
(Jn 18:33) Pilate then entered the court again, called Jesus and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” (34) Jesus replied, “Does this word come from you, or did you hear it from others about me?” (35) Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? It was your own people and the chief priests who handed you over to me. What have you done?” (36) Jesus answered, “My kingship does not come from this world. If I were a king like those of this world, my guards would have fought to save me from being handed over to the Jews. But my kingship is not from here.” (37) Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” And Jesus answered, “Just as you say, I am a king. For this I was born and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is on the side of truth hears my voice.”
INTERPRETATION
Background
After the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, the soldiers brought him to Annas, who questioned Jesus about his disciples and doctrine (Jn 18:19). Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas, the High Priest (Jn 18:24) who interrogated him in the Sanhedrin. The synoptic gospels give details of this trial. Their main accusation against him was blasphemy, claiming himself as the Messiah (Mt 26:65; Mk 14:64; Lk 22:70-71). Since they wanted crucifixion for Jesus, they brought him to Pilate, the Roman governor of Judaea. Pilate asked the Jews, “What charge do you bring against this man?” (Jn 18:29). They presented Jesus as a criminal (Jn 18:30) who opposed the Roman government, and they wanted the governor to crucify Jesus (Jn 18:31).
Christ the King
Pilate then entered the court again, called Jesus and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” (Jn 18:33)
Pilate
Pontius Pilate was the fifth ruler of the Roman region of Judaea, the centre of Jews, which included the site of the Jerusalem Temple. So, he administered Judaea for the Roman Emperor Tiberius and subordinate to the legate of Syria for ten years, from around 26 to 36 AD. As ‘Prefect’ of Rome, he was an overseer of the Roman soldiery, a judge with authority to inflict capital punishment, and in charge of Roman taxation. The Sanhedrin forwarded Jesus’ case to Pilate for crucifixion. They made false allegations in order to stir up Pilate’s anger towards Jesus.
Pilate then entered the court again
When the Sanhedrin gave Jesus over to the authority of Pilate, the governor’s troops brought him into the Praetorium, which was the palace of the governor. Though his permanent residence was at Caesarea Maritima on the Mediterranean coast, he came to Jerusalem because of the Passover feast. As the leader of the Roman Empire, he had to maintain order during the Jewish assemblies and guarantee that they would not become a rebellion against Roman rule. Mark 15:16 shows that the entire six hundred soldier cohort was present.
When the Jews brought Jesus to Pilate’s residence, “It was morning. And they themselves did not enter the Praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover” (Mt 18:28). The Jews regarded the Gentiles and their residences as unclean. As they had not fulfilled the Passover obligations, they refrained from entering the abode of the gentile governor. Respecting their sensitivity, Pilate went out of his palace to enquire of their charge against Jesus. After hearing them, he went back to his court to talk to Jesus.
called Jesus and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”
The Jews’ primary accusation against Jesus was blasphemy, i.e. proclaiming himself as the Messiah. Besides this, they detested Jesus for disregarding the Sabbath, objecting to the Jewish authorities, influencing people through his miracles and teachings, and attacking merchants in the Temple. The Jews adjusted the claims they had made against Jesus when they talked to Pilate, as these were of no concern to him, who was acting on behalf of the Roman emperor.
The Jews interpreted Jesus’ religious accusations as political cases and portrayed him as a Roman opponent, even though he had never challenged Roman rule. They told Pilate, “We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Messiah, a king” (Lk 23:2). Therefore, they falsely accused Jesus of inciting people against the authorities, refusing to pay Roman taxes and proclaiming himself king of the Jews, which was contrary to Roman policy. These were usually a source of annoyance for the Roman governor. The Jews who were hostile to Roman authority pretended to be in favour of the pagan government for ill purposes. Their claim was “Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar” (Jn 19:12). If Pilate did not sentence Jesus in a way that conformed to their wish, he would be deemed an adversary of Caesar (Jn 19:12). Thus, they imposed a pressure tactic on Pilate to crucify Jesus.
The Jews had accused Jesus of claiming to be their king without the emperor’s permission. So, Pilate had to question it, even though he did not know of Jesus having said such a thing. Hence, Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” which implied, “Are you the long-expected king of the Jews?” or “Are you conspiring against the Roman emperor?” Pilate knew that apart from King Herod Antipas in Galilee and himself as governor in Judaea under the Roman emperor, there was no other king for the Jews. However, if anyone claimed to be the king of the Jews, Pilate had to take the case seriously and sentence capital punishment.
(34) Jesus replied, “Does this word come from you, or did you hear it from others about me?”
Instead of denying his kingship or proving his innocence, Jesus boldly raised a question to Pilate, who had judicial power over him. Though Pilate had the good intention to free Jesus if innocent, Jesus’ goal was not to escape from custody. Like the innocent lambs the priests slaughtered in the Temple, he willingly subjected himself to trial, false accusations, torture, and sacrifice. He came to the world to save humanity and offer his life as a ransom for the people’s liberation from Satan’s bondage.
“Does this word come from you?”
Jesus was present in the governor’s court with the soldiers when Pilate went out and listened to the charges that the Jews had brought against Him. However, Jesus knew the false allegation was on his claim as a secular king of Jews. Though the Jews accused Jesus as a rebel claiming to be their king violating the Roman regime, he knew Pilate would not believe it. Since Jesus quickly rose as an unusually popular leader among the ordinary people, Pilate must have scrutinized the teachings and activities of Jesus through his secretive team. So, Jesus’ question to Pilate implicitly sought to clarify whether he believed in the Jews’ accusations, or whether his question was just based on what he heard from the Jewish leaders and of which he was asking for a verification.
“Did you hear it from others about me?”
From Jesus’ birth to his ascension, people considered him the king of Israel.
1. At the birth of Jesus, when the Magi arrived at King Herod’s palace, their question was, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage” (Mt 2:2).
2. When Nathanael first met Jesus, he professed his faith in Jesus saying, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel” (Jn 1:49)
3. After Jesus had fed five thousand men with five barley loaves and two fish, the people said, “‘This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.’ Since Jesus knew they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone” (Jn 6:14-15).
4. Zebedee’s wife Salome approached Jesus with her two sons and a request: “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom” (Mt 20:21). Implicitly, she and her sons believed he was about to establish his kingdom.
5. While the people solemnly welcomed Jesus in the Temple waving palm branches, they cried out: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, [even] the king of Israel” (Jn 12:13; Lk 19:38).
6. When Pilate’s soldiers mocked Jesus with a crown of thorns and dressed him in a purple cloak, they saluted him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Jn 19:3)
7. “Pilate also had an inscription written and put atop the cross. It read, ‘Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews’” (Jn 19:19).
8. While Jesus was on the cross, the chief priests and the scribes mocked him, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe” (Mk 15:31-32).
9. One criminal crucified with Jesus mocked him, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the king of Israel!” (Mt 27:42)
10. Before the ascension of Jesus, the disciples asked him: “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)
Those who mocked Jesus as king knew the widespread belief of the people that Jesus was their king. However, those who accepted Jesus as the Son of God or the Messiah were uncertain what type of king Jesus was.
(35) Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? It was your own people and the chief priests who handed you over to me. What have you done?”
Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew?”
Pilate might know that in the Jewish faith their God, Yahweh, had promised them a deliverer, known as the Messiah. So, the implied question of Pilate was: “Am I a Jew to believe you as the Messiah of the Israelites? I am not well versed in your religious politics.” So, Pilate asserted that the question was not based on his belief or doubt.
It was your own people and the chief priests who handed you over to me
The subtext in Pilate’s statement is, “I do not believe you to be the king or political liberator of the Jews. But I am questioning you because your fellow Jews, headed by the chief priests, want me to try you for their political gain.” Pilate’s answer to Jesus’ question was that he heard of Jesus’ claim to kingship from his very accusers. Notably, Pilate, acting in his capacity as a Roman official, had no accusations against Jesus per se.
the chief priests
During the public ministry of Jesus, Caiaphas was the High Priest, and his father-in-law and former high priest Annas was the head of the Sanhedrin and coworker of Caiaphas. Both were known as high priests. Besides these two, the heads of the twenty-four courses of priests were known as chief priests.
The soldiers arrested Jesus and brought him to Annas for a religious trial at night. Annas was corrupt and had bribed the Romans to get into the high priesthood. He had business alliances with the merchants, who were money changers and sellers of sacrificial animals in the temple area. Since excessive exploitation was taking place in the name of God at the holy place, Jesus had chased away the business people. This stirred up Annas’ anger against Jesus, leading to his arrest and trial. Caiaphas, the high priest of the time, was also involved in the trial of Jesus.
During the Passover, the priests would traditionally select an unblemished lamb for sacrifice. Similarly, Annas and Caiaphas, with the support of other chief priests, chose Jesus for slaughter. Jesus voluntarily offered himself up for his sacrifice. It fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “But the LORD laid upon him the guilt of us all. Though harshly treated, he submitted and did not open his mouth; like a lamb led to slaughter or a sheep silent before its shearers, he did not open his mouth. Seized and condemned, he was taken away. Who would have thought any more of his destiny? For he was cut off from the land of the living, struck for the sins of his people” (Isa 53:6-8).
“What have you done?”
Pilate was convinced that Jesus never declared himself as a political leader of the Israelites. So, he was wondering what caused the Jewish elite to hate him so much that they even wanted the most painful and humiliating death sentence called crucifixion for him. Pilate was curious to know the reason for such a severe conflict between Jesus and his opponents. The governor was eager to ascertain the truth directly from Jesus because of Pilate’s impartial position. Pilate, in his authority as judge, was determined to ensure that the accused was guilty of a serious crime fit for a death sentence.
(36) Jesus answered, “My kingship does not come from this world. If I were a king like those of this world, my guards would have fought to save me from being handed over to the Jews. But my kingship is not from here.”
Jesus answered, “My kingship does not come from this world”
Pilate might have expected Jesus to deny the accusation about his kingship. Instead, Jesus affirmed himself as a king. He was emphatic, however, that it was not an earthly kingship. Thus, he posed no threat to any governmental authority. Jesus had told the Jews earlier, “You belong to what is below, I belong to what is above. You belong to this world, but I do not belong to this world” (Jn 8:23).
Jesus acknowledged he was the king that God promised David through the Prophet Nathan. “When your days have been completed and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, sprung from your loins, and I will establish his kingdom. He it is who shall build a house for my name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me” (2 Sam 7:12-14). This was only partially fulfilled in Solomon, the descendant and son of David. So, the Israelites have been waiting for the God-promised ruler, who would be the Son of God and an everlasting king. However, the nature of this kingdom was unclear to the people. Jesus explained to Pilate that his kingship was of divine origin.
“If I were a king like those of this world, my guards would have fought to save me from being handed over to the Jews”
Kings and kingdoms of the world are prone to waging war for defence and attacking adversaries. If Jesus’ kingdom was of this nature, then he would have fought for it and avoided capture by the Jewish authorities. Jesus could safeguard himself through his divine power, or he could defend his realm with the support of his disciples and devotees. Before the God-determined time for his death, Jesus had escaped from the assassination attempts of his enemies:
1. After Jesus read from the scripture and preached in the synagogue in Nazareth, the people there “were all filled with fury. They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. But he passed through the midst of them and went away” (Lk 4:28-30).
2. During a theological dispute between Jesus and the Jews in the Temple area, “they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area” (Jn 8:59).
3. Jesus was walking about in the Temple on the Portico of Solomon during the feast of the Dedication. During his discussion with the Jews, he said, “‘The Father and I are one.’ The Jews again picked up rocks to stone him” (Jn 10:30-31). After further discussion, “They tried again to arrest him; but he escaped from their power” (Jn 10:39).
4. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the tomb, the chief priests and the Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and agreed to kill Jesus. “So from that day on they planned to kill him. So Jesus no longer walked about in public among the Jews, but he left for the region near the desert, to a town called Ephraim, and there he remained with his disciples” (Jn 11:53-54).
“my guards”
The apostles of Jesus could defend him from his enemies.
1. While Jesus was going with his disciples to Jerusalem through Samaria, a Samaritan village declined to receive him because he was heading for Jerusalem. The apostles James and John asked Jesus, “‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?’ Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they journeyed to another village” (Lk 9:54-55).
2. The disciples of Jesus carried swords with them. The disciples said to Jesus, “‘Lord, look, there are two swords here.’ But he replied, ‘It is enough!’” (Lk 22:38)
3. When the soldiers came with Judas to arrest Jesus, “His disciples realized what was about to happen, and they asked, ‘Lord, shall we strike with a sword?’” (Lk 22:49)
4. At the arrest of Jesus, “And behold, one of those who accompanied Jesus put his hand to his sword, drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear” (Mt 26:51; Lk 22:50).
The admirers of Jesus: The Jewish authorities knew that the followers of Jesus would defend him.
1. The crowd wanted to make Jesus their king after they had witnessed the multiplication of barley loves and fish (Jn 6:14-15). If he had accepted their offer, they would have safeguarded him.
2. The multitude of pilgrims who welcomed Jesus with palm branches to the Temple cried out: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, [even] the king of Israel” (Jn 12:13). If he had taken up the kingship, they would have fought in his defence.
3. When Jesus cleansed the Temple, “The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it and were seeking a way to put him to death, yet they feared him because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching” (Mk 11:18).
4. “And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words” (Lk 19:47-48).
5. When Jesus taught the parable of the Tenants, the chief priests and the Pharisees realized he was alluding to them. “And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet” (Mt 21:46; Mk 12:12; Lk 20:19).
Twelve legions of Angels: After Peter struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his ear, “Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot call upon my Father and he will not provide me at this moment with more than twelve legions of angels?’” (Mt 26:52-53)
“But my kingship is not from here”
Jesus asserted the truth of his kingship, but not of this earthly plane. His answer indicated his sovereignty in a heavenly kingdom. Although Pilate, a non-Jewish person, could not comprehend it, Jesus gave him a guarantee that he did not need to be concerned about the charge of Jesus’ temporal rule. The trustworthy reply of Jesus convinced Pilate of his blamelessness and of the deceptiveness of the Jewish leaders. This caused Pilate to take steps to set Jesus free.
(37) Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” And Jesus answered, “Just as you say, I am a king. For this I was born and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is on the side of truth hears my voice.”
Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?”
Jesus’ reply puzzled Pilate. Jesus admitted his position of royalty while confirming that it was from a separate world. So, the governor’s response, “So you are a king?” expressed his inference of a strange kingship of Jesus. Pilate needed more clarification on that to be assured that Jesus was not claiming worldly domination over the Jews.
And Jesus answered, “Just as you say, I am a king”
Jesus affirmed to Pilate that his understanding was accurate. Jesus asserted himself as a king with more clarification that followed. The synoptic gospels also document the response of Jesus to Pilate as, “You say so” (Mt 27:11; Mk 15:2; Lk 23:3). The meaning of the usage is “yes.” Jesus used a similar expression when the members of the Sanhedrin questioned him, “Are you then the Son of God?” His reply was, “You say that I am” (Lk 22:70). The high priest asked Jesus, “I order you to tell us under oath before the living God whether you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” Jesus responded, “You have said so” (Mt 23:63-64). Thus, Jesus told the truth by admitting that he was indeed the king, the Messiah, and the Son of God.
For this I was born and for this I have come into the world
Jesus was distinct from all other humans in that he was born with a mission to fulfil. His Father sent him from heaven on a mission as He had promised Adam (Gen 3:15) and reiterated through the history of salvation. His adversary was not the Romans but Satan, who misguided Eve through untruths. God’s truthfulness was his shield, and he was determined to lay down his life in pursuit of his goal. His incarnation was not to judge or rule the world, but to save it. So, Jesus had no intention of worldly kingship. He had denied all such requests from the people.
Jesus forced no one to follow him. All the apostles and other disciples joined him out of their free will. He also did not instruct his disciples to compel anyone for conversion to Christianity. Becoming a part of his spiritual kingdom, the Church, would be a personal choice after hearing the gospel. Unlike other worldly kingdoms, his Church does not have any geographical boundary. Therefore, Jesus depicted himself as a spiritual ruler of all those who embraced his gospel.
Jesus was not against Roman dominion over the Israelites because he knew that the slavery of the chosen people happened because of their disobedience to God. When they obeyed God, they were free from foreign dominance, and God was their defence. Hence, when the representatives of the Pharisees and Herodians questioned Jesus on the payment of taxes to the emperor, Jesus replied, “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” (Mk 12:17). Pilate must know it through his secret service. to bear witness to the truth
Jesus made clear to Pilate that the reason for his incarnation was to bear witness to his Father, who is the ultimate Truth. John quotes Jesus giving witness to the truthfulness of God. The Father is full of grace and truth (Jn 1:14). He is trustworthy (Jn 3:33), true (Jn 7:28; 8:26), the only true God (Jn 17:3), and his word is truth (Jn 17:17).
Jesus, who came from the Father, reminded people that God is their true king. When Gideon saved the Israelites from Midian, the Israelites requested Gideon that he and his descendants must govern them. His answer was, “I will not rule over you, nor shall my son rule over you. The LORD must rule over you” (Judg 8:2223). One day, the Son of God will rule over the world forever, fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament (Isa 9:5-6; Dan 2:44; 7:13-14).
Jesus conveyed the truthfulness of His Father, as the world is under the sway of Satan, the fabricator of untruths who misguides humanity. He started that with Eve, who acknowledged to God, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate” (Gen 3:13). Then on, “the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” (Rev 12:9) is predominant. Jesus told the Jews who tried to kill him, “You belong to your father the devil and you willingly carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him. When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe me” (Jn 8:44-45). While speaking of the great tribulation, Jesus warned, “False messiahs and false prophets will arise, and they will perform signs and wonders so great as to deceive, if that were possible, even the elect” (Mt 24:24). Jesus came to correct the people from Satan’s deception and finally, to destroy him forever. Hence, Paul wrote, “Draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armour of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens” (Eph 6:10-12).
Everyone who is on the side of truth hears my voice
Since God is the truth, those who are on the side of truth are God’s obedient children. They adhere to the teachings of Jesus who descended from heaven. “He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy” (Jn 3:32-33).
Since Jesus gave witness to the true God, he himself is also true. During his meeting with the disciples, Jesus said in answer to a question of Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father” (Jn 14:6-7). Jesus said to the Jews who believed in him. “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (Jn 8:31-32). So, Jesus is the truth and the means to know the Father, who is the true God. Though common people accepted the witness of Jesus, the religious leaders declined to accept him and continued to side with the deceiver.
Origin of the Feast of ‘Christ the King’
The Feast of ‘Christ the King’ is of recent origin. The background for considering this feast was World War I (01 August 1914 to 11 November 1918) and the lack of peace even after the war. Pius XI, the then pope, wanted to give importance to the kingship of Christ as “Prince of Peace.” The pope published an encyclical, “Ubi Arcano Dei Consilio” in December 1922 and another one, “Quas Primas” in 1925. Pope Pius XI first established the feast in 1925 and the Church observed it on the Sunday prior to All Saints’ Day or the last Sunday of October. The Pope intended to remind Christians that they must show allegiance to Christ the King rather than to earthly rulers.
Pope Saint Paul VI moved the feast of Christ the King to the last Sunday of the liturgical year in 1970 and renamed the feast as “Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe.” The relevance of this change lies in the fact that it marks two remembrances. Firstly, it is a reminder to Christians of the impending arrival of Christ when he will establish God’s kingdom with Jesus as its sovereign. Secondly, it leads into the season of Advent when we prepare for Christmas, the birth of the coming king.
MESSAGE
1. Pilate was open-minded when he questioned Jesus. According to what he heard from Jesus; he understood that Jesus was the expected king of the Israelites in a spiritual sense. This he expressed in the inscription he posted on the cross that read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” Are we openminded to listen to the Word of God?
2. When Pilate was aware of Jesus’ innocence, he sought to liberate Him. Jesus did not evade the crucifixion, for it was the purpose of his incarnation. He told Pilate the truth, avoiding lies or excuses to evade the crucifixion. Do we stand for the truth?
3. Though Pilate stood for justice and declared Jesus as innocent, he sentenced Jesus to crucifixion, giving in to the pressure tactics of the Jewish leaders. Are we also tempted to give up faith because of the deceitful pressure of others?
4. Jesus was born with a mission. We realized our mission as we grew up. Is it for worldly achievements only, or for entry into heaven?
5. As members of the Church, we are already in the kingdom Jesus established in its primary stage. He called us to serve him through the Church and the people who deserve our service. Are we fulfilling this mission?
6. Jesus revealed to Pilate that God is truth, and that he came to give witness to the truth of his Father. Let us be truthful to our calling by giving witness to the true God and his Son, Jesus Christ.
7. Pilate knew “that it was out of envy that they had handed him over” (Mt 27:18). The Jewish authorities disliked the popularity of Jesus, who did not agree with them. Do we offend others out of envy?
8. “On Judgement Day at the end of the world, Christ will come in glory to achieve the definitive triumph of good over evil which, like the wheat and the tares, have grown up together in the course of history” (CCC 681). So, let us continue fighting against evil with the grace of Christ and persist in doing good, awaiting the glorious return of Jesus.
9. After the Last Judgement, the Father will enthrone Jesus Christ as the “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev 19:16). Let us pray and work for our admission into this perfect kingdom of the Lord.
