Daily Readings - Sun Nov 25 2018
Daniel
13I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.14And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Revelation
5And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.7Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.8I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
John
33Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews?34Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me?35Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?36Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.37Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of God’s kingdom and the identity of Jesus as the King of kings. In the first reading from Daniel, we hear a vision of the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, receiving dominion, glory, and kingship over all peoples. This passage, written in the context of persecution and suffering, offers hope to God’s people by pointing to a future where God’s reign will be universal and eternal. In Revelation, we see a similar image of Jesus, who is described as the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings. The passage emphasizes Jesus’ love for us, His sacrifice for our sins, and His ultimate triumph. Both readings set the stage for understanding Jesus’ kingship as something far greater than earthly power.
In the Gospel, Jesus stands before Pilate, who asks if He is the King of the Jews. Jesus responds by clarifying that His kingdom is not of this world. This exchange highlights the misunderstanding that often surrounds Jesus’ mission. Pilate, representing earthly authority, cannot grasp the spiritual nature of Jesus’ reign. Jesus makes it clear that His kingdom is rooted in truth, and those who belong to the truth will listen to His voice. This dialogue reminds us that our allegiance to Jesus must transcend worldly loyalties and ambitions.
These readings call us to live as citizens of God’s kingdom, a kingdom rooted in love, truth, and sacrifice. In our daily lives, we are invited to prioritize the values of this kingdom: humility, compassion, and fidelity to God’s will. Let us ask ourselves: Do we recognize Jesus as the true King of our lives? Do we seek His truth and live according to His teachings? May we be inspired by today’s readings to deepen our commitment to God’s kingdom, knowing that His power endures forever, and His truth will set us free.