This final Sunday of our liturgical year we celebrate the Solemnity of Christ the King.  Our prayer in honor of Christ the King leads us to an understanding of our belief that Jesus is the Universal King who is given power and authority to rule over all creation.  All things are subject to him.  There are still many in our world today that do not recognize the authority of Jesus.  They are the modern day Pilates who put the question to Jesus today, “Are you the King of the Jews?” (Jn 18,33) Their question is not the authentic question of one who is searching for truth but rather it is one that mocks the truth as it stands before them.  Behind this question lays a challenge and an assertion that defies the authority of truth.  In Pilate we see the fullness of human hubris, a pride that asserts itself as being above the truth and will resort to stripping the truth of its dignity, mocking it and consigning it to the masses.  Pilate will leave us with the question, “What is truth?” (Jn 18,38)

    In the gospel of John, Jesus gives Pilate a very concise description of his mission.  “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” (Jn 18.37) The testimony that Jesus will give goes beyond words and teachings.  He will testify with his entire life.  He is truly the “Word made flesh” as he incarnates the truth for all to see and experience.  Jesus will state simply, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” (Jn 14,6) Jesus not only speaks and lives the truth but he is the Truth.  As areading from Revelations tells us, “Jesus Christ is the faithful witness.” (Rev 1,5)  The question that confronts us today on this Solemnity of Christ the King is “Are you a King?”  Do we recognize the authority of truth in our world today?  Do we consider the truth to be king in our world?  Are we willing to subject ourselves to the truth and serve the truth?  Is the truth a king and does it have any authority in our world today?

    Jesus understands that the world is not really oriented towards the truth.  Jesus informs Pilate:  “My kingdom is not here.” (Jn 18,36) The world claims authority over the truth as will Pilate when he becomes frustrated with Jesus and asserts, “Do you not know that I have power over you?” (cf Jn 19,10) The world believes it has power and authority over the truth to manipulate it, change it, redefine it and make it serve our purpose.  In this world the truth is a vassal not a king, it serves the purpose of those who control it.  In our world today we make the truth subjective and relative to our purposes. Truth is not recognized even when it is standing naked before us.  Jesus challenges us with his simple assertion, “If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over…” (Jn 18,36) There are few who are fighting for the truth today. 

    If we are truly to proclaim and celebrate Jesus Christ as King then we must recognize his authority and his power.  We must subject ourselves to his teachings and serve his mandates.  To recognize Jesus as King is to recognize the Truth as king in our lives.  Jesus is the shepherd king who calls to his sheep and they recognize his voice and they follow him.  Jesus testifies to Pilate, “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” (Jn 18,37) If we desire to enter the Kingdom of God then we must learn to serve the truth with our lives.  We must follow in the way of our shepherd king.  As Jesus came to testify to the truth with his life then we also must be witnesses to the truth with our lives.

    The Church today is calling us to a New Evangelization.  This New Evangelization will not be accomplished through words alone but by the witness of those who follow Christ the King.  Our faith must be a lived faith and it must be written in the lives of those who believe.  The yoke of faith, the yoke of truth, is a gentle yoke for it is the yoke of love.  The truth that Jesus proclaims with his life is the truth of God’s love.  Jesus Christ is King.  It is time for us to listen again to his voice and to fight so that he will not be handed over to the world to be mocked but instead that he will be lifted up in the lives of all believers for all the world to see and believe.