Solemnity of Christ The King, November 26, 2006

May your Kingdom come..

Who is Jesus ? Who is this man that Pilate sees brought before him? Pilate wonders but does not understand what is going on, nor its importance. He does not realize that he risks being manipulated: Am I a Jew? he asks, as if to emphasize that this affair really doesnt concern a Roman. But, since the Jewish authorities have handed Jesus over to him, he imagines that this man must have done something reprehensible.

Then Jesus speaks of his royalty. In a way, his answer is ambiguous, even paradoxical, for Jesus uses images that seem at first incompatible with the idea of royalty. His Kingdom is not of this world. His royalty is not an earthly power. It is not imposed on others by force and domination. Nevertheless, if his royalty does not come from humans, it concerns humans. Jesus defines his mission, moreover, as a witness to the truth. And what is this truth if not the unveiling of Gods plan of salvation? The royalty of Jesus is thus expressed in the revelation of the mystery of God and Gods love. Jesus words propose to humankind the gift of divine communion.

So, when we pray the Our Father and say: Thy Kingdom come, we affirm that we welcome this wonderful gift of God. And welcoming it means committing oneself. How can we contribute to the coming of the Kingdom?

First of all, we also have to be witnesses to the truth by our words and our actions, by proclaiming the Good News and being men and women of communion. The Incarnation of Christ changed the course of history and has given meaning to both the present and the future. Let us be sentinels of hope, watchful in recognizing the signs of the Kingdom already in act.

—Sr. Sophie Ramond, RA