When we were little children, we were given many examples of kings, mostly in fairy tales. These were

usually red-robed gentlemen who either ruled with an iron fist or spent most of their time trying to marry off

their beautiful daughters. As we grew, we learned of kings who constantly battled neighboring kings for

territorial conquests. None of those kings seems to coincide with what we are taught about the greatest

one of all, Christ the King. Where others lead by authoritarian rule, our King leads us by serving, and by

giving us his greatest treasure, love. How can we now define king any other way?

We are nearly to Advent, the time in which we all pause and celebrate the period of waiting for a coming

Savior, a king for all the people. Today is the last Sunday of the liturgical calendar, and is the feast of

Christ the King. In today's reading, Pilate repeatedly asks Jesus if he is king of the Jews. His answer? "You

say I am a king." In the footnotes to the New American Bible, it says that this is a "reluctant affirmative"

at best. In other words, Jesus probably felt Pilate would never understand the type of king Jesus was; it

was best to answer with a non-answer.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that we, the people of God, share in the royal office

of Christ. In his kingship, he draws all of us to him, asking us to reign as he did, in service to others (CCC

786). The people of the time of Jesus' earthly life had heard of a coming king and savior for many generations;

their own experience with kings led them to believe their king would be a mighty ruler as well. But

this King of Kings, the greatest of all, spoke softly, served others, showed compassion for all, and asked

only for love in return.

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.” - Jn 18:37