The First Judicial Examination in the Court of Pilate
“Pilate therefore went into the hall again and called Jesus, and said to Him: ‘Art Thou the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered: ‘Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or have others told it thee of Me?’ Pilate answered: ‘Am I a Jew? Thy own nation and the chief priests have delivered Thee up to me: What hast Thou done?’ Jesus answered: ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would certainly strive that I should not be delivered to the Jews: But now my kingdom is not from hence’ ” (John 18, 33-37).
First Prelude: Behold Jesus in the court of Pilate.
Second Prelude: O Jesus, God of truth and King of glory, grant me the grace to know Thee better that I may love Thee more ardently and follow Thee more faithfully.
First Point
“My kingdom is not from hence”
Seeing that Pilate was not inclined to condemn Jesus to death on their testimony alone, the Jews broke forth in complaints, saying: “We have found this man perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that He is Christ, the King.” Pilate, therefore, asked Him: “Art Thou the King of the Jews?” O august mystery! In the desert Satan offered Him all the kingdoms of this world, but was repulsed. The kingdom of Christ is the union of all who willingly submit to His holy doctrine and His laws. It is an empire of poverty, humility, patience, love, and mercy. To this empire Christ referred when He said to Pilate: “My kingdom is not from hence,” and again the admonition to His disciples: “Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God and His justice” (Matt. 6, 33).
How fortunate must we deem ourselves to be children of the Catholic Church, the kingdom of God on earth! How happy, to have been called to a vocation that makes the seeking of this invisible kingdom by the striving for perfection, our sole bounden duty. May our one ambition be to subject ourselves to the King of this empire. We will beg Him to take His abode in our hearts and to reign therein that we may become fit instruments to win others to His love. Let us lament the blindness of the Jews in rejecting their true King, who desired naught but to render them happy here and hereafter, and at the same time, remember that if we would reign with Christ we must suffer with Him in this life.
Are all the inclinations of my heart docile to Him? Have I, in particular, subjected pride and self-will to His sway?
Second Point
“For this I came into the world: that I should give testimony to the truth”
In our stead Jesus answered Pilate that He came into the world to give testimony to the truth, and that he who hears His voice is of the truth. Pilate, the earthly minded, idolatrous pagan had no conception of these words, though addressed to Him by the lips of Eternal Truth. Jesus had testified to the truth by His doctrines, for no one could accuse Him of error—by His example, which corresponded in every detail to His doctrine—by His death, by which He confirmed His teachings. The Saviour has transmitted to us the plenitude of eternal truth in His holy Church. It is our bounden duty, therefore, to ponder these truths more and more, and to make our lives accord with the known truth. As disciples of Christ we must give testimony of His gospel, and by our whole demeanor proclaim aloud the truth of His doctrine.
How deplorable were it not, if like Pilate, devoid of a sincere desire to become acquainted with the truth, we, too, should merit the reproach which Jesus made His incredulous contemporaries, that they love darkness more than light (John 3, 19).
Are we grateful when our superiors reprimand us to aid us in acquiring self-knowledge and thus to effect our betterment? Ask yourself, my soul, whether or not you always receive such words of eternal life in good part, and strive zealously to correct your faults.
Affections: O King of Eternal Glory, it is meet and just for Thee to be a King of this world also. But Thy infinite love rejects all earthly honors and possessions, because Thou wouldst set us an example of humility, wouldst encourage us to despise worldly honors and to strive for the possession of heavenly treasures alone. O Divine Teacher, let us realize that all is naught save to love God and serve Him alone. Teach us heavenly wisdom and truth, which treads all earthly things under foot. Whatever comes from God is truth—Thy holy doctrine, Thy commandments, Thy example, Thy wounds and Thy means of grace. Oh, may our lives ever accord with these truths, that walking in the truth here below, we may one day behold Thee face to face in Thy glory.
Resolution: I will frequently offer thanksgiving to my Divine King for having called me to His holy service, and observe my Holy Rule with great fidelity.
Spiritual Bouquet: “Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.”
Prayer: Take, O Lord . . .
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