November 24: What is Truth?

Christ the King

When we celebrate Christ the King, we are not talking about political power. That is the only kind of king that Pilate recognized. Our first two readings describe in poetic terms what Christ’s kingdom is like: a priestly kingdom of glory and power that will never end. Pilate was judging the One who would one day judge him. He wanted to know if Jesus claimed to be a king, or if the Jews who wanted Jesus destroyed were behind the rumors of kingship. Jesus does not deny his kingship; after all, he says his purpose in life is the Truth. If you were reading this in the Bible, you would see Pilate’s response, “What is truth?”

For Jesus (and for us), truth is the relationship between God and God’s people. God is the source of the universe, the source of all life. Jesus came to show us the truth of God’s love for all people. The divine kingdom is simply the way that we relate to God and each other. We join that kingdom, not by signing a membership list, but by living a life of love: Love for God and for each other.

So why doesn’t Jesus use all that power and glory to make everyone follow him? Because God asks us to be humble like Jesus. God doesn’t force people to believe. That is another side of Truth: who God is and who we are. If you believe in God, you begin to see God in people whom you love, people who need our help, even people who don’t like us. We even see God in the beauty and majesty of creation. A few years ago, when I heard that scientists were coming to accept that the universe was infinite, I was afraid that that would make people reject the idea of God. But then it occurred to me that an all-powerful God would make an infinite universe to show the divine glory.

Today Jesus invites us to accept the truth and become members of his kingdom. The tax is what we freely choose to give; the army are those who freely give themselves in service to the poor, the sick, and those who are seeking God. And the laws of this Kingdom are simple—Love God with all your being and love your neighbor as yourself. And that’s the Truth.

Tom Schmidt