Sunday Reflections | Solemnity of Christ the King

By SIDTP SoCom

Published on November 24, 2024

Pilate said to Jesus, “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, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have 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.”
Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”

Today, on the Solemnity of Christ the King, we reflect on a striking moment from the Gospel of John, where Jesus stands before Pilate, the Roman governor, accused of claiming to be a king. Pilate’s question is straightforward: “Are you the King of the Jews?” In Pilate’s mind, this is a political charge, an accusation that could threaten the power of the Roman Empire.

But Jesus’ response shifts the entire conversation. He answers Pilate, not by directly claiming His kingship in a worldly sense, but by explaining the nature of His kingdom. *”My kingdom does not belong to this world,”* Jesus says. If His kingdom were of this world, His followers would be fighting to free Him from His accusers. But as He points out, His kingdom is not one built on earthly power, wealth, or military force. Instead, it is a kingdom of truth and divine justice.

Pilate is left confused, asking, *“What is truth?”* This is a question that still resonates today. For Pilate, truth was relative and subjective, shaped by political expedience. But Jesus speaks of a truth that is absolute—a truth grounded in God’s revelation and His love for humanity. For Jesus, truth is not simply a set of facts, but a living reality, and He Himself is the embodiment of that truth.

As we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, this Gospel passage offers us a profound reflection on the nature of Jesus’ kingship. Unlike the kings and rulers of this world, whose authority is often enforced through power and control, Jesus’ kingship is one of humility, service, and truth. His reign is not one that seeks domination or force; it is a reign that invites us into a relationship with the Creator, where truth, justice, and love are the foundations of His rule.

So, what does it mean for us to celebrate Christ the King? On this solemn feast, we are invited to reflect on how we understand the kingship of Jesus in our own lives. Do we recognize Him as the King of our hearts, our lives, and our world? Jesus’ kingship is not about imposing His rule from the outside, but about inviting us to accept His reign in our hearts, to live according to His truth and to allow His love to shape how we live and interact with others.

In a world where earthly power and success are often equated with greatness, Jesus shows us a different model of leadership. His kingship calls us to love our enemies, to forgive those who wrong us, and to serve others with humility. He asks us to embrace a truth that is not always popular, but which leads to life and peace. The truth He testifies to is the truth of God’s unconditional love for all people and the call to live in that love.

The Solemnity of Christ the King is also a reminder that Christ’s reign will one day be fully realized. While we live in a world that often seems far from the peace and justice Jesus proclaimed, we believe in the promise that Christ will come again, and His kingdom will be established in its fullness. As Christians, we are called to be witnesses to this truth, to live as citizens of God’s kingdom, and to work to bring the values of Christ’s reign into our daily lives.

As we celebrate Christ the King today, we might ask ourselves: Do I allow Jesus to be the King of my life? In what areas of my life am I resisting His rule? How can I better live out the truth of His kingdom in the way I treat others, in my choices, and in my actions?

Let us ask for the grace to recognize Christ as our King—one who reigns with love, justice, and truth—and to surrender our hearts and lives to His kingship, so that we may be faithful witnesses of His kingdom here on earth, as we await its fulfillment in the life to come.