THE WORD
FIRST READING Dn 7: 13–14
As the visions during the night continued, I saw coming with the clouds of heaven
One like a son of man.
When he reached the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him,
He received dominion, splendor, and kingship;
all nations, peoples and tongues will serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away,
his kingship, one that shall not be destroyed.
SECOND READING Rv 1: 5–8
And from Jesus Christ, 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, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever [and ever]. Amen.
Behold, he is coming amid the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him. All the peoples of the earth will lament him. Yes. Amen.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.”
GOSPEL READING Jn 18: 33–37
Pilate went back into the praetorium and summoned Jesus and said to him, “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.”
IN OTHER WORDS
A king is one whose orders are followed.
Pilate was such a king. He was dressed in silk and wore a crown made of gold. He had a territory where his word was the law. Jesus was brought to him by his subjects. In fact, he would order that Jesus should die.
Jesus was also a king. He was dressed in a torn garment and wore a crown made of thorns. He did not have a territory where his word was the law. Nobody was forced into him but crowds followed him. He obeyed the will of his Father. He was king to anyone who belonged to the truth.
Who do we have as our king? Whose orders shall we follow?
Money?
Comfort?
Power?
Jesus?
- Vic Rayco, SVD (St. Jude Cath. Sch., Manila)
The Word in other words 2015
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
