Last Sunday’s Solemnity brings the Church Year to a close, we contemplate the Risen Christ in His glorified state as King of the Universe and souls.
The readings emphasise the love of Christ the King. He did not come to establish His Kingdom by force, but instead by weapons of goodness and a shepherd’s solicitude. He came to seek out and save what was lost and His Kingdom is a Kingdom of truth and life, of holiness and grace, of justice, love and peace. He wishes to reign above all, in our hearts with His Will.
In last Sunday’s Gospel, Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Palestine stands face-to-face with the Lord of the Universe. Although exhausted by the first twelve hours of His Passion, Jesus eyes glow with love and determination, that led Him to this hour. Pilate was not satisfied with the accusations of the Jews and wants to condemn Jesus on just grounds.
So, he calls Jesus aside and asks: Are you the king of the Jews?
Jesus responds: My Kingdom if not of this world. If it were, thousands of armies would defend Me.
Surprised and moved by the gentleness and dignity of Jesus’ words,
Pilate says: What? You are a King?
Jesus answered: Yes, I am a King. I was born for this: to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to My voice.
But Pilate isn’t interested in truth.
He asks: What is truth?
He doesn’t want to hear anymore.
One that comes to mind is St John Henry Newman. He was an English Catholic theologian, academic, philosopher, historian, writer, and poet. St John Henry was previously an Anglican priest and after his conversion became a cardinal. He was an important and controversial figure in the religious history of England in the 19th century and was known nationally by the mid-1830s. He was canonised as a Catholic saint in 2019. In becoming a Catholic, Cardinal Newman gave up a prestigious and wealthy professorship at Oxford University in England. His friends tried to dissuade him, but he reminded them:
What is $100,000 or so per year, compared to just one Holy Communion?
Newman was a man who belonged to the truth and was able to hear God’s voice.
Hatred for and fear of the truth is called moral relativism. The late Pope Benedict warned us that this is one of the greatest threats against the common good of society. It is the view that there is no moral or religious truth to which we are all accountable. This is the opposite to the teaching of the Jesus and His Church. We see this error especially in politics, where many politicians push harmful ideologies which damage lives, instead of serving the Truth and being guided by the Word of God.
St John Henry Newman came to recognize the truth about the Blessed Sacrament. That it is really Jesus, present Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. When we come before Our Lord in Holy Communion we are before Him as Pilate was in today’s Gospel.
Last Sunday we were privileged to have a First Class Relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis and exhibition of his life at our Divine Mercy Shrine in Lower Chittering. Tomorrow it will be at Immaculate Heart College adjacent to our Shrine. Blessed Carlo was a British-born Italian website designer who documented Eucharistic miracles and approved Marian apparitions. These are catalogued on a website he designed before his death from leukaemia at the young age of 15 in 2006. Blessed Carlo went to Mass every single day during his short life and had a strong devotion to Our Lady and the Eucharist. Next year during the jubilee of Adolescents at the Vatican, on the weekend of 25-27 April, he will be canonized as a Saint of the Church. We pray that many, especially the young people, will be inspired by the life of Blessed Carlo, to grow in devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, spend quality time with Him in Adoration and have a tender devotion to Our Lady Queen of Heaven.
Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Let’s ensure Jesus is at the very centre of your life by encountering Him regularly in Confession, in the Eucharist and through a tender devotion to His Mother. You should also desire that He reign with His Will in your heart, as King of your heart. Praise be Jesus Christ, our King, and His Holy Will now and forever!