Readings for Feast of Christ
the King/yr. B:
John 18:33-37
November 23, 2003
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
Jesus said: "Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." [Jn. 18:37]
In today's gospel, Jesus is being questioned by Pilate, the Roman governor of 1st Century Palestine. The Jewish religious authorities have accused Jesus of disturbing the peace and causing social unrest. They have presented Jesus as a criminal, hoping that Pilate will sentence him to the death penalty. But if the Jewish leaders were to be truly honest with themselves, they would admit that the core issue is not social unrest but fear. They are experiencing fear because Jesus has challenged their theological sensibilities, has revealed truths that show their lack of faith, has challenged their institutional practices, and has gathered a significant following of people.
Pilate begins the interrogation by trying to find out who this Jesus is and why some of his people want him put to death. Pilate's main concern is not theological but political. He is really not interested in deeper truths. He basically wants to know if Jesus has any political ambitions that would threaten Roman occupation of Palestine. So his opening question is: "Are you King of the Jews?" Jesus counters with his own question: "Is this your question or did others put you up to it?" Taken aback, Pilate disclaims knowledge of Jewish affairs, but still insists on an answer: "What have you done?" Jesus acknowledges his kingship but insists that its origin is not related to the political machinations of this world. As Jesus and Pilate continue to speak to each other on two totally different levels of consciousness, today's gospel ends with Jesus words: "You say that 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. [Jn. 18] On this feast day of Christ the King, I want to talk about Seeking the Truth.
When it comes to seeking the truth, Americans have not always been vigilant. In fact, most Americans expect deceit in their daily lives and are not shocked when they have been confronted with falsehood. In our culture, lies are no longer labeled "lies" but simply someone else's spin on reality. Because we have become so comfortable with irony, ambiguity, relativism, and doubt, many folks no longer believe it is possible to distinguish fact from fiction, truth from lies. Deception is so pervasive today that it almost feels authentic to us.
For instance, journalists are inventing facts and sources in order to sell sensational stories. "Reality shows" on television are anything but reality and are carefully staged and contrived. In the art world, forgeries of precious artifacts have been successfully sold to museums while the market place is filled with make-believe Rolex watches, stolen software, and designer jeans. Cover-ups and deceit are regularly practiced by Wall Street, Enron, oil companies, and the news media. Truth has become an endangered species, even among our presidents. Lyndon Johnson was said to have suffered a credibility gap when it came to Vietnam. Richard Nixon protested "I am not a crook" during the Watergate scandal. Bill Clinton swore that he "never had sex with that woman." Bush has spent billions of dollars destroying the social fabric of Iraq under the guise of finding weapons of mass destruction that have yet to be found. Lewis Lapham, editor of Harper's Magazine, says that as long as Americans can afford to buy an SUV or a condo in Florida, it doesn't make a difference to us who is running the country. I hope he is wrong.
Today, economic and political power are valued over truth and integrity. When the economy is doing well and a large percentage of people are reaping the benefits of that economy, there is a tendency for us to put our heads in the sand and not to struggle to unveil the truth. Once the economy goes sour, people begin to open their eyes. But unfortunately, they do not look deep enough. Instead, they look for easy answers, often unwilling to address the underlying issues or their own complicity in the problem. The recent recall of our California governor is one example of peoples' desire for quick and easy solutions to complex problems.
When the economy however, goes totally bankrupt and people are hungry, it is then that they cry out in rage, often seeking a political solution that will satisfy the immediate need. This happened after the tragedy of World War I, when the European nations were faced with severe economic chaos. In response to this chaos, fascism became an increasingly popular political solution that promised immediate results. Fascism is a form of government that is characterized by dictatorship, suppression of all opposition, belligerent foreign policy, and the glorification of one's own nation and race. In 1922, Mussolini and his fascist Party Blackshirts, marched into Rome. Promising to revive the economy, Mussolini became the right wing leader of Italy. It is into this context of economic collapse and political oppression that Pope Pius XI instituted the feast day of Christ the King in 1925. This feast day was instituted to remind Christians that because Jesus is Lord and King, no other leader on earth deserves unquestioned support. This feast day was instituted to remind Christians that "to-good-to-be true" political agendas are usually not good, but rather short sighted, parochial, and harmful in the long run.
There are so many difficult and challenging problems facing the world today. Most of us do not have the power or the wisdom to solve all of these problems. However, we do have the power to seek the truth and then to speak the truth. As recipients of a tradition of love that was passed down to us from Christ the King, it is our obligation to expose falsehood and distorted thinking, especially when it harms the fabric of society. We are to witness to the light and say no to the darkness. The other day, I was lamenting the volatile nature of Silicon Valley and the lack of stability. A friend (who is a casualty of the computer industry) replied that companies are required to submit to the demands of Wall Street and can not plan for the long term because the quarterly bottom-line is all that counts to investors. I replied: "Just because Wall Street demands results, does not make it right. Greed is greed. Shortsighted economic policies are dangerous and are tearing the social fabric of society." I hope all of you are raising your voices to expose the truth and to witness to love!
Jesus said: "Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." Do you remember what that voice says? It is a voice that is interested in all people, not just the people of the United States. It is a voice that is grounded in compassion and speaks about peace, generosity, virtue, forgiveness, and self-sacrifice. It is a voice which claims that true greatness is achieved by serving others, especially the poor, the sick, and the hungry. It is a voice of healing, inclusivity, and hope. It is a voice that says: "If you continue in my word you will know the truth and the truth will make you free." [Jn. 8:32]
"Almighty God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule." [Collect for Christ the King: BCP 236]
| Updated 11/23/03 |
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