Viva Kristo Rey!

The Holy Gospel according to St. John (Jn 18:33-37)

Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus, and said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?" Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me; what have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world." Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice."

We celebrate today the Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe. And in today's liturgy, we hear Jesus telling Pilate that He indeed is a king, yet His Kingdom is not in and of this world. Jesus' Kingdom is in the hearts of men -- feeble, weak, yet loved by the God who is eternal. Perhaps it might be helpful if we ask ourselves whether the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus is already in our hearts. This is the challenge of the celebration of Kristo Rey.