SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING

READINGS: OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE

As we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King, on this 34TH Sunday in Ordinary times, Year B, the gospel reading (John 18:33b37) tells of the encounter between Pilate and Jesus, as the Jews lined up accusations against Christ trying to find a way to get Him condemned and crucified. At one point, Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" 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." By this answer, Christ clarified that His kingdom had nothing to do with the earthly kingship of ruling the Jews, and therefore, His kingship was not in conflict with the kingship of the Roman Emperor. Therefore, His kingship was not a revolt against the Roman occupation of Israel. In which case, no crime had been committed.

Apparently, Pilate understood this and believed that Christ was innocent of any crime he was being accused of. But, while recognizing the truth of Jesus’ innocence, he chose to ignore it and sentenced Him to death, just to satisfy the people. It is a tragedy when we recognize the truth before us and fail to act on it. Honorable living is more than not lying; it is also about truth-telling, about truth-speaking, about truth-living, and about truthloving. It takes greater courage to back the truth, that is uncomfortable to the majority, than it does to compromise, because of the fear of consequences. Many people have suffered the weight of the law, unjustly, because those who knew the truth chose to be silent in the face of man’s inhumanity to man.

My friends, a lie doesn’t become a truth, a wrong doesn’t become a right, and evil acts don’t become good just because it is tolerated by the majority. Facts are always a threat to those who are invested in dishonesty and fraud. The duty of truth is to challenge falsehood. Humanity is better off whenever we raise our voices for honesty, truth, and compassion, against injustice, lying, and greed.

The Solemnity of Christ the King calls us to live with integrity, and that means, refusing to settle for falsehood and speaking truth to our own conscience, even when it might not be popular. Truth never damages a cause that is just. Whenever we experience a conspiracy of silence in the face of falsehood, an evil design is at work. A word of truth, in such an environment, is what it takes to bring light into the darkness of that moment. All that it takes for evil to thrive, as the saying goes, is for a few good people to keep silent.

Part of our truth telling is to recognize and acknowledge that God has done so much for us and that many people have contributed to where we are today. So, as we celebrate this thanksgiving, let us count our blessings and the many graces received; let us look back and see how far God has brought us—moment of tribulations and turmoil He has delivered us through; let us remember that we have not made it this far by our efforts alone, and be grateful in our hearts; let us commit to pursue justice, equity, and fairness for all. May God Almighty and Christ His Son be the king of our hearts and lives, Amen.