FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING - 25-11-2012

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FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING (B)

John 18, 32-37

 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” (NIV)

MAKE THE TRUTH KNOWN

José Antonio Pagola

 The trial of Jesus probably took place in the palace of Pilate where he resided when he came to Jerusalem. There, one April morning of the year thirty, a helpless prisoner called Jesus and the representative of the powerful imperial system of Rome, met.

Rev. Fr.Valentine de Souza S.J.

 The gospel of John reports the dialog between the two. In fact, more than an interrogation, it appears to be a discourse of Jesus to clarify some issues of great interest to the evangelist. At a certain point Jesus makes this solemn declaration: “For this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of the truth, listens to me.”

 This statement reflects a basic feature that defines the prophetic career of Jesus: his will to live in the truth of God. Jesus not only speaks the truth, but he seeks the truth, and only the truth of a God who wants a more humane world for all his sons and daughters.

 For this reason, Jesus speaks with authority, but without a false show of it. He speaks with sincerity , without being dogmatic. He does not speak like the fanatics who seek to impose their truth. Neither does he speak like officials obliged to defend what they do not believe in. He never feels he is a guardian of the truth but its witness.

 Jesus does not turn the truth of God into propaganda. He does not use it to his own advantage, but in defense of the poor. He does not tolerate lies, or cover-ups of injustices. He does not back manipulation. Jesus thus becomes “a voice of the voiceless, and a voice against those who have too much of a voice.” (Jon Sobrino)

 This voice is more necessary than ever in our society trapped in a serious economic crisis. The great financial powers and the political management under their control presumably function through suppression of the truth. They want us to live out the crisis in a web of lies.

 Everything possible is done to cover up the responsibility of the main agents who caused the crisis. The suffering of the weakest and most defenseless victims meanwhile is ignored in a vicious manner. We urgently need to humanize the crisis and to put at the center of our concern the truth about those who are suffering and the priority to be given to an increasingly serious situation.

 It is the most important truth to be recognized by all if we do not want to be inhuman; the key data to consider before any other. We must not get used to the social exclusion and the despair the weakest continue to suffer. Those of us who follow Jesus must hear his voice and instinctively go to their defense and help. Whoever belongs to the truth listens to his voice.

Work as a witness to the truth

Jose Antonio Pagola, vgentza@euskalnet.net , San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain.

English Translation by Valentine de Souza S.J. Mandal, Gujarat , India.394650