"Pilate entered the praetorium and called Jesus, and said to him, « Are you the King of the Jews? » Jesus answered, « Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me? » Pilate answered, « Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me; what have you done? » Jesus answered, « My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world. » Pilate said to him, « So you are a king? » Jesus answered, « You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice. »"

Homily:

"Pilate entered the praetorium and called Jesus, and said to him, « Are you the King of the Jews? » Jesus answered, « Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me? » Pilate answered, « Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me; what have you done? » Jesus answered, « My kingship is not of this world; if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews; but my kingship is not from the world. »"

Jesus is the King of the Jews! We know this is true! Jesus is the descendant of King David. As Joseph married Mary, the Mother of Jesus, Jesus, through his father, is also a descendant of the family of David, the King and Prophet, the one whom all cheered and recognized as the ancestor of the Messiah on the day of Jesus' triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. « Hosanna to the Son of David! » they cried! Today -- alas! -- it is no longer before the crowd of the believers that Jesus appears as a King, but before an official of the Roman state, Pilate. The believers of some days before became mute. They were afraid of the chief priests, so they handed their King over to the authority of the almighty invader!

On Palm Sunday a huge crowd cheered Jesus, « Son of David »! The Messiah was acknowledged by a great many people; yet, their cheers were fleeting. Indeed, the royalty of Jesus is not from this world! Where is the truth: Christ, the earthly King, or Christ, the King of Heaven? Jesus humbled himself on earth in order to be glorified by his Father in Heaven. "He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name." (Phil. 2:8-9) Jesus humbled himself on earth. He came to earth bearing his cross, but then God revived him and welcomed him on his throne of glory into Heaven!


"Pilate said to him, « So you are a king? » Jesus answered, « You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Every one who is of the truth hears my voice. »"

Jesus is a King! He said to Pilate, "I am a king." But he added, "For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth." The truth! Behold that which makes Jesus the King of the universe! Because he only possesses the Truth, he is himself the Truth. Didn't he say, "I am the way, and the truth and the life" (Jn. 14:6)? Since Jesus is God, if He is the Truth, He is the divine Truth. It is therefore about a truth in which we must believe to understand, because a divine truth surpasses our intelligence, and the virtue of faith allows us to seize it supernaturally. Now our faith, which asks us to submit all our being in order to believe, necessitates a renunciation of our intelligence, of all that we naturally know. So, believing in the Truth which is Christ, we humble ourselves before him and we recognize his sovereign and universal royalty. Jesus is our King when we believe in him!

Jesus is our King, and we humble ourselves before him, believing in him. But the Lord declared very clearly, "Whoever humbles himself will be exalted." (Matt. 23:12) Also, acknowledging Jesus as our King, we will be glorified with him. Jesus always rewards those who serve him faithfully! And in a short time, we will be celebrating the Mystery of our faith. We are going to cheer the Lord present on the altar, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity! Let us ask Mary to help us to fully believe in the presence of the Lord in the Eucharist, because the more we believe in the dead and risen Christ, the more we will be glorified with him in Heaven! May our communion of today accomplished through Mary be our eternal glorification in Christ!