John 18:33-37

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."

We are bombarded daily with opinions. Especially with social media, it seems like there are an infinite number of people and organizations, that try to play with our emotions, keep us from thinking and then tell us what we “should” do or think. If we get caught up in this space, we can become confused, led astray, and even do things against the will of God. So, who do we listen to?  What is the truth?

 In the Catholic Church, the feast of Christ the King is celebrated several weeks before Christmas every year. Pope Pius XI started The Feast in 1925 hoping that the annual celebration would remind us that Christ is our King, Christ is the way, Christ is the truth. We are reminded to strengthen our relationship with Jesus and put it first, above all other things, to let Him reign in our lives, not politicians or the opinions of others on social media, and gain the courage we need to bring Jesus from the “Church into the streets” and invite back those who are separated from him.

Knowing Christ as our king, we know our true authority, and we know truth. As Jesus said in the gospel, his kingdom isn’t here. It’s not of the world, it’s other worldly. So then to see and know truth, we must look out of this world.

In this world, we see people who are sometimes ignored, pushed aside, or marginalized because they don’t meet some expectation of normal that the world has placed on them.  Truth is, we are happier when we meet, accept, and get to know people where they are.  Not force them to look and act a certain way to be included, but constantly invite them, as they are, into a loving relationship with Jesus. The kingdom of God is one of invitation.

In this world, when someone wrongs or offends us, we can become angry and fall into the trap of judging, holding grudges, and even seeking revenge. The world might even say that because we were treated unjustly, we have a right to reciprocate and behave this way.  Truth is, we are happier when we meet offenses with mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation. The kingdom of God is one of mercy.

This world encourages us to pursue things because it says they will make us happy.  But, if we aren’t careful, these things can overcome us, become all we think about, and eventually we don’t own them, they own us.  Truth is, we are happier when we are attached only to God and not to earthly possessions. We can enjoy and be grateful for the gifts we are given and not fall to pieces if we lose them or need to let them go.  The kingdom of God is one of detachment from worldly things.

The world encourages us to focus on ourselves. It’s called individualism.  I am responsible only for myself. I can do and have a right to do whatever I want to make myself feel happy.  Everyone else is not my problem.  They are responsible for their own existence, and happiness.  Truth is, we are happier when we are for others and not rooted in our own selfishness.  We are made that way.  We were made for community and communion. That’s why we gather to worship together.  The Kingdom of God is a generous community focused on the good of others.

There is sickness, suffering, death, and evil in the world.  This causes some to ask, “If God is so good, why do bad things happen to good people?” and can even lead some to turn their backs on God.  Truth is, we are happier when we believe, trust and work with God to overcome these things. In the kingdom of God, evil, and all these bad things are overcome by doing good.

Sometimes in our loneliness, the world can make us think we don’t matter.  We’re not good enough. It’s hopeless.  But, here is the biggest truth.  Truth is, Jesus came to save you from that hopelessness.  He died to save you from sin and evil.  He rose so he could be with you forever.  Because, truth is, you are worth it.  You are his and he loves you more than anything.  In the kingdom of God you are a cherished and precious son or daughter.

Christ is our King, and there is a Kingdom. We are royal subjects in his Kingdom. Our duty is to witness the truth of Jesus in love, act like we are out of this world, and bring his Kingdom into the streets. At Catholic Charities, we can see the Kingdom in the streets.  We see exclusion overcome with invitation, judgement overcome with mercy, possessiveness overcome with detachment, selfishness overcome with generosity, evil overcome with good, and hopelessness overcome with love.  Truth is, in the Kingdom of Christ our King, we can peacefully endure anything that comes our way, free from fear, anxiety, confusion, or anything else that our world tries to control us with because we know truth.

To answer your question Pilate, “What is truth?”  Jesus, Jesus is truth.