Next Sunday in the Catholic Church the Solemnity of Christ the King is celebrated. In the Gospel of John Pilate asks Jesus, Are you the king of the Jews? We might wonder if Jesus is our king; Even more What are the signs of the reign of Jesus in our lives?
To answer we would have to clarify what does “reign” mean—a theme that, according to the Gospel of Mark, during the public ministry of Jesus the disciples did not actually understand. Indeed, for them, to be Messiah (Anointed - King of Israel) was to receive and exercise power from Jerusalem. And all aspired to share in that power. There’s nothing better than being a disciple of a powerful king! But Jesus thought differently. For him to reign is to give his life for others, the greatest is the one who serves everyone. The Lord understands his life as a total surrender to the Father and to those in need. It is not about accumulating power but giving oneself entirely, seeking the good for the sisters and brothers. That is why Jesus can say: "My kingdom is not of this world." Do we understand this? Or do we keep trying to make Jesus a worldly king?
We invite you to add your comments to this blog entry on our Facebook.