Today's (very long!) readings focus on Christ being king. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, questions Jesus about this. If Jesus claims to be king, this could be a threat to the Roman Empire. Israel was a state subject to Rome, so if Jesus claimed to be king, it could be an act of rebellion against the empire. In fact, we later hear the Jews threatening Pilate: "Everyone who makes himself a king is against Caesar.". So he asks Jesus: "Are you the king of the Jews?".
Jesus makes it clear that he is a king, but that his kingdom is not an earthly one: "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my guard would have fought to keep it from falling into the hands of the Jews. But my kingdom is not of this world".
It is a spiritual kingdom, not a political one. But Pilate still does not understand this. And he insists: "So, you are a king?". Our Lord's answer is mysterious: "....You say: I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world: to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.".
Thus, Jesus is a king, but not in the way it is commonly understood. His kingdom has nothing to do with power on earth, nor with power achieved through corruption. When we think of politics and power, we tend to think of deceit and falsehood, not truth. Pilate is similarly confused. Question:"And what is truth?". As if to say, "What has truth got to do with earthly government?".
Jesus is king with a kingdom that is not of this world and a kingship related to truth. The more we look to heaven and speak the truth, the more we are kings, the more we rule ourselves. There is a kingship that comes with honesty and sincerity and looking heavenward. True government is in heaven. Jesus promises us that, if we are faithful, we will share his throne in heaven (Rev 3:21). As he conquered and shares his Father's throne, we will share his triumph.
Today is a day to focus on the Cross as the source of salvation. Jesus saved us by dying for us: he accepted that brutal death and turned it into infinite love, overcoming the evil of our sins. We are invited to accept the Cross, to turn suffering into love, and thus to collaborate with Jesus in his work of salvation. But suffering also comes when it is difficult to speak the truth. Our witness to the truth, with all the sacrifice it may entail, becomes union with the sacrifice of Christ.
