A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 18:33-37

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?" Pilate replied, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here." Pilate asked him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that 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." THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD

REFLECTION: "So you are a king?"

This is the last Sunday of ordinary time, the end of the liturgical year. The year ends during a scene of the passion of Christ and the establishment of Jesus Christ, the King. This Nazarene, a carpenter's son, is the King of the Universe and all Creation. He is the King of our souls.

When I think of a king, I think of the royal weddings, castles, private jets, impressive ceremonies, extravagant lifestyles and certain royal etiquette afforded to one with such power. There were in the past, kings who fought for territory and who waged wars. They ordered their soldiers to battle over earthly and material things. These kings had the power to kill you or take all your belongings because they were your king and you were the subjugated servant.

But my King was born in a stable amongst the barn animals, he fled to Egypt because another king wanted him dead, he lived a quiet life in Nazareth, and he had no home to call his own. Now I find him in the court of Pilate being mocked at, brutally punished, and eventually dying a horrific death on the cross. All this for love of me--?

He said he came searching for his lost sheep and he came to tend to those who had gone astray and to show them joy, peace and love. Jesus did not order his angels to find us, he did not appoint men and women to do his work as he gave out orders. No, he personally persevered in battle for our souls and he did not stop til the enemy was defeated. Our King battled and won and conquered the evil of the devil. He beat the devil through his death on the cross and the resurrection. My King has saved humanity from the worldly malice of the devil and he did it with Love and nothing else. He loved us so much that he paid the ultimate price.

We have inherited the Kingdom of God. We were adopted into his Kingdom and we are asked to have Jesus reign in our minds, wills and our actions. The first person who formally recognized Christ as king was the condemned criminal crucified with Christ," Jesus remember me when you come into your kingdom." Luke 23:42

Jesus is the most benevolent King and living in his Kingdom is quite simple.

1. He forgives, heals and expects the best from us based on the gifts he has given us.

2. To be great in his Kingdom, we should be childlike.

3. Only one law exists and this is love . Jesus does not rule by force or fear.

4. There is only one banquet that we are invited daily--the Eucharist

5. We are asked to pray for priests who without them we cannot attend the banquet of God.

6. We are asked to make our ordinary world more divine.

7. We are to serve others.

8. We are to abandon ourselves to him.

9. Live with Christ and he will live in us.

10. Jesus always grants us more than what we ask for (St Ambrose) --the crucified criminal that day was admitted into paradise--

11. Jesus has plans of good not evil, a future filled with hope for us.

12. His holy Mother, our queen, will always look after us.

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