SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST THE KING B
LOOKING AT THE KING
JN 18: 33b-37
MESSAGE
Pilate was searching for a king crowned with jewels, yet before him stood Jesus, weary and disheveled from a sleepless night in a dungeon.
Pilate expected a king dressed in golden robes, yet Jesus wore a simple, dusty garment—the same one he used while walking the streets, preaching, and healing.
Pilate looked for a king surrounded by a powerful army, but Jesus stood alone. Even his closest friends had deserted him.
Though Pilate was in the presence of the King, the Lord of heaven and earth, he failed to recognize him. Why? Because he wasn’t looking with love. Only love can perceive “love’s look”; only love can recognize the One who truly loves us and longs to reign in our hearts.
As Christians, we profess that Christ is our King, indeed the only King of the universe! Yet, how often do we overlook his presence, even when he is near! We seek a king who will grant our every wish, eliminate our suffering, and shield us from all pain. But Jesus reigns not to erase our experience of weakness or vulnerability. He reigns by embracing our struggles and standing with us in our trials. His kingship is defined by his solidarity with our brokenness.
REFLECT
Are you searching for God in the right place? Let us not expect our King to save us from our humanity. Instead, let us welcome him into every experience—our joys and sorrows, laughters and tears, victories and defeats. He is the King who walks with us in the daily struggles of life because he loves us deeply. Look to the Lord not through the lens of your expectations, but with the eyes of love. Long live, Christ the King!
