November 25, 2018

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
Daniel 7: 13-14; Revelation 1: 5-8; John 18: 33-37
I’m sure that many of us shift into this once in a while: we wonder if evil will be ever overcome? Will
there be an end to hatred and violence? Will there be an end to attacking and downgrading people from
those in authority, from ourselves and those we love? Will love conquer evil? Will God win the battle
against Satan…and the forces of evil? We somehow get caught in the position that evil has a chance of
winning since we see its triumphs so often. We know this can’t be the case, but we wonder. Why?
Does this come from our own negative thinking? Does this come because at those times our faith is not
very strong or we have a lot of unresolved doubts? Does this come when we have a problem with
trusting and believing people, even those close to us, and perhaps, regrettably, God? When this happens
we usually find that we are being negative with the people around us, especially those whom we love
and are special. My mom would say to me at times, ‘Why are you so contrary of late? Well, why do I
do this? Why do we do this? The readings assure us today that God has ultimate supremacy over the
earth…over me…over every person. The voices that spew violence, hatred and chaotic pandemonium
definitely will be overcome and the Word of God that spoke all into being will be the final word.
The Babylonian Exile also called the Babylonian Captivity was the forced detention of Jews in
Babylonia following the conquest of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon. Several
deportations took place, especially after each subsequent uprising in Palestine. In the beginning of the
Book of Daniel we read how Daniel and three of his friends were led into captivity. The king ordered
his chief eunuch to bring in “some of the Israelites of royal blood and of the nobility, young men without any
defect, handsome, intelligent and wise, quick to learn and prudent in judgment, such as could take their place in the
kings’ palace….” (Daniel 1: 3-4) Those selected were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. Daniel’s
name was changed to Belteshazzar. He had the gift of interpreting every kind of vision and remained in
Babylon for close to sixty years. In today’s excerpt Daniel has been challenging the enslaved Israelites
to invest in the truth that as God’s people they should put God first. They had been drifting toward the
Babylonian gods. Daniel is telling them that there will be brighter days. He is reminding of the promise
God made to David through the prophet Nathan “I will establish David’s royal throne forever” (2 Samuel 7:13).
The Messiah is promised again and total commitment to the standards of heaven will provide a firm
foundation for this kingdom. It is the rule of God…it’s all about God and His plans and not mine.
Daniel states this in the last verse today, “His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away,
His kingship shall not be destroyed.”
The final book of the New Testament is the Book of Revelation. Its obscure and vivid imagery has lead
to various different interpretations. It does not refer to actual people or events, but is an allegory of the
spiritual path and the ongoing struggle between good and evil. The first verses state the purpose of the
book, “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him, to show His servants what must happen soon…To
Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood, who has made us into a kingdom of priests for His
God and Father, to Him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen…’I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the
Lord God, ‘the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’” We come from God and we are
destined for God. Jesus redeemed the world by His total sacrifice of love. Now the tide has turned to
me…to each of us. John’s writings (his Gospel, three letters and Revelation) reflect the eschatological
belief that Jesus would return and defeat Satan’s kingdom of evil and hurt, ushering in God’s reign.
That reign is me…it is you…it is each and every person who believes and has been touched and lives
the love of God. We are the Church as the documents of Vatican II repeatedly bring out. So how am I
doing? What help do I need from the Holy Spirit? Do I realize that I am a needed disciple? All the
individuals of the Old Testament have left the ground work. Those in the New Testament have testified
to the truth of Jesus. Now what is needed is the lived version of the person of Jesus by you and me.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is before Pilate. The Jewish authorities want Jesus killed, but this can only
be mandated by the Roman secular authorities. That’s why they bring Jesus before Pilate accusing Him
of blasphemy. Pilate gets right to the point and asks Jesus if He is the King of the Jews. Pilate means a
secular king. We see Jesus is switching roles and begins to put Pilate on ‘trial’ by the way He phrases
His questions. Is Pilate convinced that Jesus is a King or is it just hearsay? Pilate shows his disgust for
the Jews. Jesus next responds that He is a King but not the King Pilate envisions. Jesus’ kingdom is a
spiritual reality, the ultimate reality: Pilate’s world means nothing, it is irrelevant to Jesus and the
Kingdom of God.
HE IS THE TRUTH. He is offering His Kingdom to everyone. Only those who believe in Jesus can
accept this offer. “For this was I born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who
belongs to the truth listens to My voice.” What is Jesus telling us? He shows us the nature of His Kingship:
He is a servant King. He washes feet. He touches the untouchables—sinners, diseased, crippled—with
His total love and shows they are loved. His throne was riding on the donkey and the cross. His
message was consistent: God loves each person, all the time. To belong to His Kingdom we are called
to be servants too: washing feet, caring for the least, the last, the lost and loving them.
How do I counteract fear, hatred, violence? I do this by embracing a vision of humankind as a family of
individual souls made in the image of God. I do this by seeing each person as a brother and a sister in
Christ. This vision brings about God’s vision of the world centered in the spirit of hope and compassion
that He taught.
So I reflect on:
• How do I describe the truth that Jesus came to share with the world, my world?
• How does my life make it known right now that I serve Christ, the King of the Universe?
• What is the normal relationship between a king and his people? How is this different from Jesus’
relationship with His people? How is it the same?
• As we come to the last day of the Church year, what has been the biggest step I have taken in my faith
life this year?
Sacred Space 2018 states:
“Jesus has to correct Pilate’s understanding of Jesus’ role: ‘My kingdom is not from this world’ or ‘My kingdom
does not belong to this world’. In spite of this warning, we have sometimes celebrated this feast in a (worldly)
triumphalist manner that does not harmonize with Jesus’ understanding of Himself.
Why is it important to read a scene from the Passion today? Does it help us grasp what the kingship of Christ
truly means? (Notice Jesus’ stress on truth in this passage.) How can Jesus be both king and suffering servant?