杏MAP导航

By Linda Bordoni

杏MAP导航 Francis on Sunday encouraged the faithful to listen to the voice of the King of the universe who made Himself the servant of all and brought hope and light into our lives.

Speaking before the recitation of the Angelus prayer on the Solemnity of Christ the King, he reflected on the reading from the Gospel of John (Jn 18:33-37) that calls us to acknowledge Christ鈥檚 kingship with our whole lives.

The reading presents Jesus who has been handed over to Pontius Pilate to be condemned to death. The 杏MAP导航 notes that during their brief dialogue, 鈥渢wo words in particular are transformed and take on a new meaning: the words 鈥榢ing鈥� and 鈥榳orld鈥�.鈥�

Thinking as an imperial official, he explained that Pilate 鈥渨ants to understand whether the man before him poses a threat, as a king to him represents an authority ruling over all his subjects.鈥�

In response, the 杏MAP导航 continued, 鈥淛esus affirms that He is a King, yes, but in a very different way!鈥�

Jesus is King

鈥淛esus is a King because He is a witness: He is the one who speaks the truth,鈥� the Holy Father said, explaining that 鈥淭he royal power of Jesus, the incarnate Word, lies in His true and effective word, which transforms the world.鈥�

His kingdom is not of this world

But Jesus is not King of Pilate鈥檚 world, the 杏MAP导航 added, a world 鈥渨here the strong triumph over the weak, the rich over the poor, and the violent over the meek. 鈥�

It鈥檚 a world, he said, we unfortunately know all too well.

鈥淛esus is King, but His kingdom is not of this world. (鈥�) The world of Jesus is the new and eternal one that God prepares for all by giving His life for our salvation,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said: 鈥淚t is the kingdom of heaven that Christ brings to earth by pouring out grace and truth.鈥�  Jesus frees us, forgives us, and gives us His peace and justice, the 杏MAP导航 explained.

Listen to the Lord

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to reflect on how, although Jesus speaks to Pilate from very close, the latter remains distant as he inhabits a different world.

鈥淧ilate鈥�, he added, 鈥渄oes not open himself to the truth, even though it is before him. He will have Jesus crucified and order the inscription on the cross: The King of the Jews, but without understanding the meaning of those words.

Christ came into our world

The 杏MAP导航 concluded reminding us that Christ came into the world, 鈥渢his very world of ours鈥� and that 鈥渨hoever belongs to the truth listens to His voice, the voice of the King of the universe who saves us.鈥�

鈥淟istening to the Lord brings light into our hearts and lives,鈥� he said, encouraging Christians to ask themselves whether His Word is their guide and whether they see in Him the merciful face of God who forgives us always.