First Reading: Dan 7:13-14; Psalm: 93. R. v. 1a; Second Reading: Rev 1:5-8; Gospel: Jn 18:33b-37
PILATE AND THE KING OF TRUTH
BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU MSP
Today is the Solemnity of Christ the Universal King. This solemnity marks the end and completes the circle of the liturgical year B in the Church’s calendar. Come next Sunday, we shall be celebrating the first Sunday of Advent that marks the beginning of the new year C in the Church’s liturgical life.
The Church’s liturgical year follows a specific circle that ushers us into the salvific plan of the Incarnate Word. It begins with Advent when we await the birth of Christ our Saviour. This is followed by Christmas, the Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord that inaugurates the public ministry of Christ. Christ’s public ministry (the ordinary time of the year) is suddenly truncated by the passion and death of Christ (Lent), his resurrection (Easter) and Ascension into heaven. With the ascension of Christ, we are ushered in as a Church to live out the fruits of Christ’s coming as we continue the ordinary time of the season until the last Sunday of the year when we celebrate the solemnity of Christ the King who will come again to judge the living and the dead at the end of time.
Therefore, the solemnity we celebrate today not only reminds us of the reign of Christ as king over our lives; but also, his reign as a just judge over us at the end of time. And this brings us to the irony of today’s gospel. On the surface, Pilate stands as judge over Christ. But in reality, it is Christ who judges Pilate.
When Christ stood before Pilate, outwardly there was nothing kingly about Christ. Christ was shabby, weak and in bondage. Christ was bruised, bleeding and shivering from the torture of his accusers. Pilate could not fathom how such a weakling could be king. So, he asked; “Are you the king of the Jews?” But the response of Christ belied his appearance. Christ said, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” No one dares question a Roman governor in that manner. And even more daring, Pilate stood in awe as Christ stated clearly before his face that he was born a king and for this he came into the world, to bear witness to the truth. And everyone who is of the truth hears his voice. This was a treasonable offense.
But at this point, Pilate became very agitated than offended as he suddenly realised there was more to Christ than meets the eye. What was even more disturbing for Pilate was hearing Christ say to him that he came to bear witness to the truth; and everyone who is of the truth hears his voice. For Pilate, it was like he was now facing the trial of truth. Truth was looking at him in the eye as would a judge. This exactly was when Pilate faced his greatest test. And unfortunately, he failed and proved he was not a true ruler. A man who looked kingly outwardly suddenly became a weakling within. Doubt, fear and confusion set in. For fear of insurrection, he gave Christ out. For fear of relinquishing his throne, he subverted justice and played to the gallery. He saw the conspiracy of the crowd but failed to give a just and outright verdict. Pilate looked a powerful ruler before his subjects but a little man, a coward and a defector to truth on the inside. What is a king without courage, truth and justice?
Conversely, Christ who looked a weakling on the outside stood powerful as the king of truth and justice in his words. Christ was bold but Pilate was scared. Christ was explicit but Pilate was confused. Indeed, truth is powerful. To subvert truth keeps us in bondage. As Christ rightly said; “You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (Jn 8:32). But what is truth? Truth is standing for what is right. Living what is right. And defending what is right. But how do we know what is right? The gospel of Christ teaches what is right because Christ is the Truth.
Just like Pilate, every day of our life we experience the trial of truth when Christ the king of truth stands before us and beckons on us to witness to truth in matters of injustice, discrimination or xenophobia. In our daily activities in life, we face this trial of truth that mirrors the judgement we shall face before the king of truth on the Day of Judgement. If the denial of truth keeps us in bondage and steals our peace; then truth has already passed its judgement on us; a reflection of what we shall face when we stand before Christ our king and judge on the Last Day.
What Christ asks of us today is very obvious. In his last words in the gospel of today Christ said that he came into the world to bear witness to the truth. And everyone who is of the truth hears his voice. Do we witness to the truth? Do we witness to the gospel? Or do we sacrifice the truth for some personal ambition, incentives or gain? Are we on the side of Truth or on the side of Pilate? There is no doubt in truth. Truth overpowers fear. Truth is courageous. Truth is unselfish. Truth is impartial. If we are on the side of Christ the king, then we must pass the trial of truth. And we can only pass the trial of truth when we consistently witness to the truth.
PRAYER FOR THE DAY
Lord Jesus Christ, king of the universe, grant us the courage to witness to the truth that your gospel may reign supreme on earth. Amen.
