Fr Kevin Kilgore

***

Gospel: 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.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

What do major companies like Dunkin’ Donuts and Apple have in common?

***

They have mission statements.

For example, the mission statement of Dunkin’ Donuts is, “to make and serve the freshest, most delicious coffee and donuts.” 

If you believe them, then you buy their coffee and donuts.

The mission of Apple is, “to design the best personal computers in the world.” 

If you believe them, then you buy their products.

We here at St. Pius X have our own mission statement: “Building Community. Worshipping God. Making Disciples.”

As we continue doing these things well, word will spread, and our parish will continue to grow as people believe in our mission.

***

Jesus has a mission statement, too. In today’s Gospel, he tells us, “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.”

Do we believe him? Does Christ reveal the mind and the heart of God?

If he does, then everything in our lives changes.

But this is a question that everyone must answer for themselves – the powerful, the poor, the ordinary, kings and queens, even Pontius Pilate, whom we encounter in today’s Gospel.

Does Jesus testify to the truth?

***

Pilate must answer this question under immense pressure.

The religious authorities have arrested Jesus and brought him before Pilate, demanding that Pilate execute him.

Though this is the first time that Jesus and Pilate have met, Pilate has heard of Jesus before.

He knows that Jesus has developed a following over the last three years through his preaching, his concern for the poor, his forgiveness of sinners, and his performance of miracles.

Still, Pilate remains undecided about who Jesus is. Is he some strange, earthly king? Is he a prophet? Is he something more, perhaps even God in the flesh?

Pilate reveals his uncertainty by oscillating back and forth between Jesus and the crowds seven different times. He’s so torn that he turns to Jesus, asking him, “What is truth?”

***

***

Pilate’s decision will determine his future.

The crowds want Jesus dead. If Pilate frees Jesus, then the crowds will storm his palace, causing a riot to ensue.

But if Pilate hands Jesus over, then he’ll be sentencing an innocent man – even God – to death.

Believing in Jesus as the Truth will cost Pilate everything – his position, his power, and possibly his life. Is it worth it?

Ironically enough, Jesus preached about this very dilemma during his public ministry: “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?”

What does it profit Pilate to remain in power for a few more years, if he loses his place in Christ’s kingdom?

***

If only it were so easy to believe and to follow the truth.

***

Pilate represents where so many people in our world find themselves today: soul searching, seeking, wondering, “What is truth?”

It’s normal to question. I’m sure many of us have wondered at some point: “What is truth? Is there a God? Is Jesus he?”

I think of our young people, in particular. Hasn’t every parent had a child ask them a hard question about God. “Mom, if God exists, then why does he allow bad things to happen?” … “Dad, how did God become a baby at Christmas?”

Even if we don’t have the answer to all of their questions – or even to our own – at some point, we all have to step out onto the water, as it were, and make that fundamental decision of whether or not to believe in Jesus as the Truth.

That decision – whether we accept him or reject him – shapes the rest of our lives, much as it did for Pontius Pilate.

***

So, what do major companies like Dunkin’ Donuts and Apple have in common? 

They have mission statements. They tell us what they offer and why. If we believe them, then we buy their products.

Similarly, Jesus tells us his mission statement: “For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.”

It is our mission here at Saint Pius X to deepen our faith in Jesus and to shape our lives around the truth he reveals.

While that may be a life-long journey, we will all do it together.

***

***

Image credits: (1) (2) Brian Zahnd (3) Rambling Ever On (4) YouTube, St. Pius X Old Tappan

***

Gospel: Luke 19:45-48

Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out
those who were selling things, saying to them,
    “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer,
    but you have made it a den of thieves.”
And every day he was teaching in the temple area.
The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile,
were seeking to put him to death,
but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose
because all the people were hanging on his words.

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

Jesus “drove out” the money changers from the temple.

This verb “to drive out” – ekballo – is the same verb used to describe the exorcism, or driving out, of demons. 

Thus, the money changers were like unclean spirits, who needed to be “driven out” of the temple.

***

Notice the symbolism here: both good and evil were at work in the house of God.

There were devout Jews entering to pray. And there were money changers seeking to make a profit off of other people’s faith.

***

Unfortunately, that’s true everywhere in the world – good and evil intermingle in governments, workplaces, homes, and houses of worship.

As one Russian novelist put it, “If only it were so easy. But the dividing line between good and evil cuts through every human heart. And who wants to destroy a piece of his own heart?”

***

As we begin preparing for Advent – the coming of the Lord into our world – perhaps we should consider those areas in our own lives where we need Jesus to drive something out of us. 

Whether it’s a particular habit, a temptation, or a sin of any kind, may the Lord drive out whatever weakens our faith, distancing us from him.

***

***

Image credits: (1) Christ Cleansing the Temple, Bernardino Mei (2) Angelus News (3) Pinterest

***

Gospel: Luke 19: 41-44

As Jesus drew near Jerusalem,
he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
“If this day you only knew what makes for peace–
but now it is hidden from your eyes.
For the days are coming upon you
when your enemies will raise a palisade against you;
they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides.
They will smash you to the ground and your children within you,
and they will not leave one stone upon another within you
because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

***

***

This is quite a tough Gospel!

For the last three years, Jesus has exercised his public ministry. 

He’s forgiven sins, healed the sick, and even raised Lazarus from the dead. At one point, the crowds following him were so large they nearly trampled him to death.

Now the tides have turned; his ministry is coming to an end as he enters Jerusalem, where he’ll be killed.

But from the very beginning, Jesus warned his disciples that this day would come. He knew it all along.

***

Consider what this means.

***

For at least one thousand days, Jesus knew that his public ministry would lead to his death.

Still, he doesn’t turn away from it. He embraces it. He perseveres to the end.

***

Perhaps this is why he says to us, “Come to me all you who are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.”

He knows what it feels like to carry a heavy burden. He shows us how to persevere in times of trial through prayer and unrelenting confidence in his Father.

With Jesus by our side, we, too, can persevere through whatever life throws at us.

So, what burdens am I carrying that I might want to share with him?

***

Let us pray.

Father, we lift up all who find themselves heavy burdened this day. May they persevere like Jesus, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

***

***

Image credits: (1) Homilies, The Prodigal Father (2) www.marysrosaries.com (3) 39 Jesus Ideas, Pinterest