The dialogue between Jesus and Pilate John recounts in today’s Gospel demands exceptional attention. The judge questions the accused. He wants to know who Jesus is and what he has done to make his own religious leaders turn him over to a pagan foreigner.
“What have you done?’ “Are you a king?” In other words, “Tell me about yourself.” Like Pilate, my questions to Jesus must be personal, not merely a definition from some theology text.
Jesus answers Pilate that he is indeed a king, but not of this world, not like the powerful worldly rulers who have men and materials to enforce their will. He is powerless. There is not even anyone with him to defend him before the judge who has the power to sentence him to death.
He has come to this world to establish a kingdom of Truth. He is the faithful witness of his Father and, because he is God, he is Truth. For anyone to connect with him, to know him, that person cannot hide himself behind falsehoods and lies.
So, I pray today to the Holy Spirit for the grace to be honest before him in order that I might know him and love him.