WHAT ROYALTY?

The Gospel of today’s solemnity takes us back to the heart of the Passion according to John. We follow the dialogue between Jesus and Pilate. “Are you the king of the Jews?” (Jn 18,33) – asks the famous Roman procurator. And Jesus replies: “Do you say this on your own, or have others told you about me?” (John 18:34). Here we have a reversal of roles, which underlines an important fact, namely that Jesus is the true protagonist of the scene, that it is he who leads events. It is Jesus who is the true judge; not the political authority that questions him. In this dialogue, Jesus then develops a profound theology of the kingdom of God and of his lordship. When he states that his kingdom is not of this world, he does not speak, however, «of a geography that would establish outside the world the territory in which his kingship is exercised… What is “not of this world”, what is outside the world, is the principle and the origin of the kingdom of Jesus; and the proof is, that he does not establish his kingdom with methods typical of this world, that is, soldiers and armed struggle» (Valerio Mannuncci).
Pilate replies: «So you are a king?» (John 18:37). And Jesus, once again, responds with a sort of mini-speech that manifests his program: «You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice» (Jn 18:37). It immediately appears clear that the kingship of Jesus is not a dominion over man but a testimony to the truth of God. In this regard, how should we understand the term «truth» (aletheia)? We are directed towards the theological prologue of John, where hestates that the Word of God is «full of grace and truth», full – we could translate – of faithful love (Jn 1:14). In Jesus, the Word, shines the fullness of God’s faithful love for man. Jesus is a witness of this quality, especially in the Passion. He reigns over those who listen to him, over those who let themselves be guided by his word, and enter into his logic of dedication to God and to their brothers; he reigns with the sovereignty of love.

Lord Jesus,
you call us to be, in the world,
a sign of the transcendence of the Kingdom.
Preserve us from every ambiguity and compromise
with the murderous power of darkness.
Keep us pure from lies,
faithful to the Word of truth of the Gospel,
steadfast and persevering in awaiting your return,
when you, radiant morning star,
will shine in the depths of our hearts
and we, in white robes,
standing before the throne of your glory,
will sing the hymn of victory,
the eternal triumph of Love.

Commentary by b. Sandro Carotta, osb
Abbazia di Praglia (Italy)

Translation by f. Mark Hargreaves,
Prinknash Abbey