The King of Our World

The Solemnity Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Lectionary: 161

Solennita' ta' Sidna Ġesu' Kristu Sultan tal-Ħolqien kollu.

Reading 1                DaNiel 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.  This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Ewwel Qari  -  mill-Ktieb tal-Profeta Danjel 7, 13-14

Bil-lejl deherli  qiegħed nara bħal Iben ta' bniedem, ġej mis-sħab tas-sema, li baqa' sejjer sax-Xiħ fil-għomor u ressquh quddiemu. U tawh  ħakma, ġieħ, u saltna,  biex lilu jaqdi kull ġens,  u poplu, u lsien.  Ħakmietu  ħakma għal dejjem li ma tgħaddix, u saltnatu  li ma tinqeridx.  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                  PSalm 93:1, 1-2, 5

The LORD is king, in splendor robed;
robed is the LORD and girt about with strength.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.

And he has made the world firm,
not to be moved.
Your throne stands firm from of old;
from everlasting you are, O LORD.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.

Your decrees are worthy of trust indeed;
holiness befits your house,
O LORD, for length of days.
R. The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.

Salm Responsorjali         SALM 92 (93)

R/  Il-Mulej isaltan, il-kobor libes.

Il-Mulej isaltan; il-kobor libes,

libes il-Mulej, tħażżem bil-qawwa.                         R/

Iżomm sħiħa d-dinja; qatt ma titħarrek,

Imwaqqaf it-tron tiegħek fis-sod minn dejjem;

minn dejjem ta dejjem int.                                        R/

Il-kmandamenti tiegħek ta' min joqgħod fuqhom;

qdusija lil darek tixraq, Mulej,

sakemm itul iż-żmien.                                                  R/

Reading 2         REVELATIONS 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." This is the Word of The Lord.

It-Tieni Qari       - mill-Ktieb ta' l-Apokalissi 1, 5-8

Ġesu' Kristu hu x-xhud fidil,  il-Kbir fost il-mejtin, il-Prinċep tas-slaten tad-dinja. Lil Dak li ħabbna, u li ħallna minn  dnubietna bis-saħħa ta' demmu,  u li għamilna Saltna, Qassisin għal Alla tiegħu Missieru, lilu l-glorja u s-setgħa għal dejjem ta' dejjem. Amen.  Arawh, ġej fis-sħab, u l-għajnejn kollha jarawh,  ukoll dawk li kienu nifduh; u r-razez kollha ta' l-art jibdew iħabbtu fuq  sidirhom minħabba fik.   Iva. Ammen!   Jiena  huwa l-Alfa u l-Omega, igħid il-Mulej Alla,   li hu, u li kien, u li għad irid jiġi, Dak li jista' kollox!  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel       JOHN 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."  This is the Word of The Lord.

L-Evanġelju  -    Qari skond San Ġwann 18, 33-37

F'dak iż-żmien:  Pilatu  sejjaħ lil Ġesu' u qallu:: "Inti s-sultan tal-Lhud?" Ġesu' wieġeb:  "Dan qiegħed tgħidu int minn moħħok,  jew kienu  oħrajn li qalulek dan fuqi?" Pilatu wieġeb:  "Mela jiena Lhud?  Kien il-poplu tiegħek u  l-qassisin il-kbar li tawk f'idejja.  X'għamilt?" Ġesu' wieġeb:  "Is-saltan tiegħi mhijiex ta' din id-dinja. Li kieku saltnati kienet ta' din id-dinja, l-għasses tiegħi kienu jiġġieldu biex ma ningħatax f'idejn  il-Lhud;  imma tabilħaqq  saltnati mhijiex  ta' hawn." Pilatu qallu:  "Mela int sultan?"U Ġesu' wieġeb:  "Int qiegħed tgħidu;  jien sultan. Jien għalhekk  twelidt, u għalhekk ġejt fid-dinja, biex nixhed għall-verita'.   U kull min iħobb il-verita' jisma' leħni."  Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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Commentary by Larry Broding

 King of the World

                    

Have your ever day-dreamed about winning the Lotto? Or being king for a day? What would you do?

When we were young, we had the time to indulge our imagination. We pretended to be famous, wealthy, powerful. Of course we grew up, but sometimes not out of those fantasies. In fact, multi-billion dollar industries are dedicated to making those dreams come true. But only for a while. And always for a price.

Let's take the ultimate indulgence. What does it really mean to be "king of the world?" Take a few moments and step into the shoes of Jesus. How would you answer the charge if you were a king of all?

What does it mean to be a king? Is it the old model of absolute power? Or is it Christ's leadership of service? These questions are the essence of Pilate's and Jesus' dialogue.

As Roman governor of Judea, Pilate was judge and jury in capital cases. His question was direct: "Do you claim to be king of the area I govern in the name of Caesar?" An affirmative answer would have sealed the fate of Jesus, since he would be branded as a political revolutionary.

But the phrase "King of the Jews" had a spiritual meaning that might have escaped Pilate. To probe Pilate's understanding, Jesus answers a question with a question: "Who are your witnesses about me?" Dismissing Jesus' question, Pilate retorts by pressing his point: "What have you done?" In other words, Pilate wants a direct witness from the source Himself, not from his accusers.

Jesus responds with a speech about his arena (i.e., "his kingdom"). Jesus' arena is not that of popular culture or politics; if it was there would be a bloody revolution.

Pilate still presses the point: "You are a king, aren't you?" Jesus gives in on a semantic point ("You're the one who says so, Pilate") but finally gives Pilate a direct witness: Jesus speaks the truth.

How does the truth Jesus speaks and the truth the "world" speaks differ? The truth of the world is transient in nature; it changes with the season and the political landscape. It speaks to ambition and power, to possessions and pleasure. The truth of the world is, at best, shallow.

But the truth Jesus speaks is one of the heart. The truth of Jesus is more than facts; it is one of fidelity. God is "true" to us; that means, he is faithful. He shows us his fidelity through his Son and the power of his Spirit. When we are true to God in return, we "live in truth" (that is, in relationship). Since God is eternally faithful, God's truth goes beyond the transient nature of politics, fad, and fashion.

How does your relationship with God touch you in ways the world cannot match? How has the truth of world failed you? How has God's faithfulness sustained you?

A theologian once said that all revelation is invitation. In other words, all that God reveals to us invites us to live with him. This is the reality of Jesus' kingship. Jesus is Lord, so we might live near him in love. He is King of the World, not over us but for us and with us.

How can you place one area of your life over to the King of the World this coming week?

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