The last part of today's gospel indicates that Jesus is a king (John 18:37). What kind of king is he? We probably can find the answer in the same gospel. After saying that he is a king, Jesus said, "For this I was born, and for this I came to the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice" (John 18:37). Moreover, he said, "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6). This indicates that Jesus is the truth, not only a witness to it.
We may call Jesus the King of truth. How do we understand his kingship of the truth, then? First, he is the king of truth with regard to his identity, for he always says the truth. That's why he does not receive a testimony from man (John 5:34). He is in control of his own destiny and trustworthy.
Second, he is not scared of any external or worldly force that might harm his kingdom since he knows everything and his kingdom is the kingdom of truth. "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews" (John 18:36). Truth is the cornerstone of his dominion, and his followers are obligated to uphold it.
Ultimately, everything is covered and owed by the truth. So, his kingdom includes all things and times. He is beyond the worldly border. "I am the Alpha and Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8). His kingdom lasts forever, and he is from all eternity (Psalm 93:2).
We are called to live in accordance with the truth of Christ, the King of Truth. Do we prioritize seeking his truth? Are we prepared to face the challenge that may accompany his truth and accept it? (Fr. Albert, O.Carm)
A World In Need of a True King
One hundred years ago, around 1925, the world was dark. The Pope in Rome, Pius XI, was worried. A handful of problems caused the darkness of the world.
At that time, World War I had recently ended with untold bloodshed. That war was fought between nations that were predominantly Christian. Christians were now fighting other Christians out of allegiance to their nationality.
The political landscape was tense, and it did not seem like peace could last long. A gro-wing secularism fueled by atheistic regimes was sweeping parts of the world, pushing Christ out of the public square.
These problems brought about today's feast day!
Pope Pius XI realized that if "the majority of men had thrust Jesus Christ and his holy law out of their lives" and "individuals and states refused to submit to the rule of our Savi-or, there would be no hopeful prospect of a lasting peace among nations." (Quas Primas 6)
Therefore, according to the Pope, peace could only be had by restoring the Empire of Our Lord. Christ needed to be pro-claimed throughout the world as presented in the Bible: King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And this is the reason for the feast day!
However, we may also need to purify our understanding of the Kingdom of Christ and the kingdoms of this world. Jesus is a different kind of King than we are used to. He is not like other kings. Rather than use his King-ship for his benefit, Christ uses his reign for our good.
The Catechism no. 786 says:
[Christ] exercises his Kingship by drawing all men to himself through his death and Resurrection. Christ, King and Lord of the universe made himself the servant of all, for he came "not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
This is why the Church offers us two readings that show different sides of his Kingship. One reflects Jesus' servant Kingship (the Gospel), and the other reflects his divine rule over all the earth (the Book of Revelation).
In this last book of the Bible, Jesus is twice referred to as the King of Kings; this name is inscribed on his thigh.
Jesus is the mysterious Rider on a White Horse that begins Chapter 19. We can summarize Revelation 19:11-16 by saying:
The white Rider comes to judge the earth and to make war. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood. His name is called The Word of God.
The armies of heaven follow him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword to strike down the nations. On his robe and his thigh, he has a name inscribed, "King of kings and Lord of lords."
However, today, the Church also has us read from John's Gospel about Christ's passion. Our King is being crucified!
Somehow, we must, like the first disciples of Our Lord, begin to understand Jesus Christ differently. Jesus is a new kind of King.
Jesus does not need the externals of Kingship, such as pomp and ceremony, armies, and castles. The petty kings of the earth need these trappings.
As Christians today, we are invited to celebrate the King of all kings. This is like what the Catechism says in 450: From the beginning of Christian history, the assertion of Christ's lordship over the world and over history has implicitly recognized that man should not submit his personal freedom in an absolute manner to any earthly power, but only to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Caesar is not "the Lord."
Ultimately, whether one is French, English, German, Russian, or American, that is less important than being Christian.
The feast of Christ the King is the Church's proclamation to the political world. We know that in the end, only a kingdom built on Christ will be ever-lasting. This solemnity reminds us that while nations rise and fall, Christ reigns as King forever.(*)