First reading: Dn. 7:13–14

As the visions during the night continued, I saw one like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; when he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.

Second reading: Rev. 1:5–8

Jesus Christ is the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead and ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.

Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.”

Gospel: Jn. 18:33b–37

Pilate said to Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?” Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?”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.”

So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

In other words

by Fr. Vicente Uy, SVD (Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City)

From the dialogue between Jesus and Pilate, one can see that the kingship of Christ is different from the kingship of this world. Let’s go over the dialogue one more time.

Pilate: “Are you the King of the Jews?”

Jesus: “You say I am a King. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 

Yes, he is a King. But his Kingship is not about military might or the power of force. It’s a Kingship of love, of peace, and of truth!

And his followers are those who listen to his voice: the voice of truth, the voice of love, the voice of peace. As we are his followers, too, are we listening to him in the Sacred Scriptures, in the Catholic Church’s teachings, in the Pope, bishops, and priests?

More than ever today, we need Christ to reign in our hearts, in our families, in our nation, and in our world. Otherwise, peace will remain an elusive dream. Moreover, the world will find itself one day at the edge of destruction, unless we submit to his Kingship.

Hail to Christ, our King!