An Everlasting Dominion by Melanie Rigney
His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed. (Daniel 7:14)
The Lord is king; he is robed in majesty. (Psalm 93:1a)
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, whom has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5-6)
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." (John 18:33B-37)
Piety
Jesus, may I emulate Your faithful witness in my own life.
And so it ends… and begins again, alpha and omega, birth and death.
It is altogether fitting that as we close in on the end of the liturgical year, today’s Gospel reading takes us back to Pilate’s verbal toying with Jesus: are you a king, or are you not? Not in a way you could understand, because you don’t know the truth, Jesus in essence responds.
Truth is hard. Love is hard. Jesus shows us the definition of both. He showed us how to live for the Father and how to die for others—with truth and love, not faltering or whining or complaining. The hope of eternal life He purchased for us by His sacrifice inspires us to pick up our personal crosses when we fail, and follow anew.
Soon, our liturgical year will begin anew, with the prelude of the birth of a seemingly helpless baby in a crude box. On December 21, we will see the end of our six-month march to shorter days. Our calendar year will begin anew not long after. Beginnings and endings, endings and beginnings. As long as we listen to His voice, we need not fear either.
Action
Where are you emulating Pilate and asking the Lord for definitions rather than offering gratitude?
Image Credit: Anonymous/Unknown author [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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