THE SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - KING OF THE UNIVERSE - Gospel (Jn 18:33b-37) THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” (Jn 18:37)

FIRST READING - Dn 7:13-14

First reading from the Book of the Prophet Daniel

As the visions during the night continued, I saw

one like a Son of man coming,

on the clouds of heaven;

when he reached the Ancient One

and was presented before him,

the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship;

all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion

that shall not be taken away,

his kingship shall not be destroyed.

SECOND READING from the Book of Revelation - Rv 1:5-8

Jesus Christ is 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 OF THE DAY - Jn 18:33b-37

A reading from the Book of John

Pilate said to Jesus,

"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."

THE SOLEMNITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - KING OF THE UNIVERSE - Gospel (Jn 18:33b-37)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today's Word of God, God the Father wants to tell all humanity, the whole universe, about how an earthly king is different from the eternal King.

An earthly king has a short and definite time in this world, but an Eternal King exists forever. That is the Almighty and Most High God, "the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven", He has existed for all eternity. He is "the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." This is God the Father the Most High. He is the King of the entire universe, this earth. In heaven above as well as on earth below, there is no king as mighty as God the Father! Therefore, all creatures must submit to His feet, to honor the glorious name of God the Father the Most High - the Almighty and Merciful.

Besides, a king on earth only cares about power on earth. They do not live justly, have love, kindness, do not know how to forgive and especially do not know how to turn to God. On the contrary, for the eternal King, there is always great love, an infinitely great sacrifice and always seeks the benefit of souls. This is the image of Jesus Christ. He came to the world to save humans from the captivity of Satan, from eternal death, from the bitterness, humiliation, and misery that Satan brings to mankind when they commit sins. A king full of forgiveness and love can only be possessed by the powerful God the Father, the Eternal King.

Today's Word of God, God the Father calls all the universe and all creatures: let's honor an Eternal King, God the Supreme Father. Let's turn to Him, because only He can bring eternal happiness to man; only He can have selfless, kind, compassionate love. Besides, there is no king with a selfless, compassionate heart, a love that forgives everything like God!

At the end of this liturgical year, God the Father wants His children to look back over the past year. He wants us to see how the immense love of God the Father - a Supreme King full of authority has manifested Himself in our own souls and bodies.

If God the Father did not preserve eternal life for humans, can people have peace and happiness, and find a place to rely on? No! Only God the Father, the Eternal King of Power, can bring eternal life to people. Only He can lovingly nourish the body and soul of people, so that after the end of this life, He will let them live gloriously in Heaven with Him.

Today's Word of God, God calls His children to eliminate evil acts, impure fornication, the arrogance of power in the worldly way, in the way of a worldly king who only knows how to use power over the soul and body of humans, without knowing how to turn to God the Father, without knowing how to turn to eternal life in the future.

God the Father wants all His children to be alert to the temptations of Satan. Because they will take advantage of the weakness of God's children, and pull them towards the earthly king with power, fame, materialistic wealth of this world, with sins and forget God the Father, a King full of love, full of kindness and infinite power.

This is why God the Father lets His children know: there is only one king, the Supreme God, who rules over the bodies and souls of mankind, so we must turn to God the Father in all things. Come and pray to Him, ask Him to grant our bodies and souls to always be in His loving arms, always take refuge in His providence, protection and shelter, a King full of power, authority, absolute omnipotence and rich in mercy.

Thanks be to God. Amen.