Truth. Google. Jesus Christ, King (2024-11-24)

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Homily –  Nov 24, 2024  /  34^th Sunday (Year B)  Jesus Christ, King ● Daniel 7:13-14  ● Ps 93   ●  Revelation 1:5-8   ● + John 18:33b-37 ●

Please note our Christmas concert is coming up.

Homily for November 24 Here...

 [01] Search for Truth: Quest for Answers 

In July 2024, a statistical report revealed some of the most commonly searched questions in the Google search engine box: ___*How to lower blood pressure?*, ___*How old is Travis Kelce … and ___Taylor Swift?*, ___*What channel is the Super Bowl on?*, and *___When is Thanksgiving Day?* These questions often yield straightforward, factual answers based on verifiable information. Some, like the ages of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, are purely informational and have little impact on our daily lives. Others, such as *When is Thanksgiving?*, prompt a response, like planning for the holiday. 

    Interestingly, no one seems to Google *When is Christmas?*, as the December 25 date is universally known. This reveals how some truths are so enduring they remain unquestioned. Reflecting on these truths invites us to consider the difference between transitory/transient (fleeting, fluctuating) interests and unchanging foundations. 

 

 [02] Pilate’s Q to Jesus: Search for Truth 

 In this Sunday’s Gospel (John 18:33b-38), we see Pontius Pilate grappling with questions about truth as he interrogates Jesus. Pilate asks, *Are you the King of the Jews?* and later, *Then you are a king?* These questions emerge in the context of a courtroom, where truth is ostensibly – officially - the central pursuit. 

 Jesus, accused of being a dangerous revolutionary, stood before Pilate as a defendant. His crime? Claiming to be the Messiah, the Son of God. This proclamation threatened the authority of religious leaders, compelling them to enlist Roman power to prosecute Jesus. 

  [03] Threat to Authority   

The religious leaders feared the growing influence of Jesus, whose teachings and miracles undermined their control. His claim to divinity was seen as blasphemous, and without the means to punish Him themselves, they appealed to Roman law, framing Him as a political threat. 

 

Pilate’s question—*Are you the King of the Jews?*—provided Jesus an opportunity to avoid His impending suffering. He could have denied the charge outright, potentially securing His release. Instead, Jesus chose to affirm the truth, even knowing it would lead to the cross. 

 

 [04] Speaking Truth in Face of Consequences 

 Jesus’ response to Pilate reveals the cost of truth. He declared, *For this I was born, and for this I came into the world: to testify to the truth.* His kingship was not rooted in earthly power but in divine authority. 

 This moment underscores the integrity of living by truth, even when it brings difficulty. As followers of Christ, we are called to embrace this same commitment, resisting societal pressures to compromise what is right and true. 

 

 [05] Profession of Faith: Declaring Our Allegiance 

 Each Sunday during Mass, and at pivotal moments like Baptism and Confirmation, we recite the Profession of Faith. Why? Because it is a declaration of who we are and what we believe. Before making this commitment, we renounce Satan, rejecting his works and empty promises. This renunciation is like rejecting harmful influences—acknowledging that they are detrimental to our spiritual health. 

 The Profession of Faith is not merely a ritual; it is a pledge to live in alignment with God’s truth: 

 - *I renounce Satan and all his works and empty promises.* 

- *I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.* 

- *I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord...* 

- *I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life...* 

- *I believe in the Holy Catholic Church... and life everlasting.* 

 This commitment reminds us that living a holy life involves both doing good and avoiding evil. It’s a choice to follow God, who is infinitely more powerful than Satan, and to trust that His way leads to eternal life. 

  [06] Precepts of the Church: Living Out Our Faith 

 Our profession of faith is not just words—it calls us to action. The Church provides five precepts to guide us in living a Catholic life: 

 1. **Attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation**: This includes participating at Mass wherever you are. 

2. **Confess your sins at least once a year**: Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are renewed and reconciled with God. 

3. **Receive the Eucharist at least once a year**: Especially during the Easter season, we are called to partake in the Body and Blood of Christ. 

4. **Observe days of fasting and abstinence**: On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Catholics fast by eating only one meal. On these days and the Fridays of Lent, we abstain from meat to unite ourselves with Christ’s sacrifice. 

5. **Provide for the needs of the Church**: This includes offering financial support and volunteering our time to help the Church fulfill its mission. 

  [07] Precepts restated as values

These precepts express not simply a set of rules to keep us “in line” but VALUES to keep us together:

-        Regular prayer and meditation (going to Mass)

-        Humility and responsibility (confess your sins)

-        Unity and community through following a model of sacrifice (Holy Eucharist and “Thanksgiving”)

 From Bishop Robert Barron:

“Of course, there is a meal aspect to the Eucharist that provides a connection—even if a tangential one—to our secular [United States] holiday of Thanksgiving. The Eucharist, however, is much more than a common meal; it is first and foremost a holy sacrifice. “The Eucharist is a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Father, a blessing by which the Church expresses her gratitude to God for all his benefits, for all that he has accomplished” (Catholic Catechism §1360).”

Source: https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/fellows/the-eucharist-as-thanksgiving/

 

-        Making “sacrifice” part of our own everyday life – fasting and abstaining from meat.  These ordinary sacrifices help us to love not only God but also neighbor.

-        Doing all of this as a team – supporting the church by our monetary contributions anf volunteer effort.

These precepts practical expressions of our commitment to God and His Church. 

By learning these values, we also learn about integrity and truthfulness.

 [08] Truth in Everyday Life 

When we Google questions, we trust in the existence of clear, factual answers. Similarly, Jesus invites us to see Him as the ultimate truth—a foundation for our faith and morality. 

 

Through the Eucharist, Jesus offers His body and blood, reminding us of the eternal truth of His sacrifice. This truth shapes how we treat others, from caring for the sick to forgiving those who wrong us. Our choices, grounded in God’s truth, affirm the dignity of every person. 

 

 [09] God’s Truth vs. Relativism 

Today’s world often promotes subjective interpretations of truth, such as *my truth* or *your truth.* As Catholics, however, we believe in God’s eternal truth—a standard that transcends personal opinion. 

This belief can draw criticism, as some may view adherence to objective moral teachings as intolerant. Yet our faith is not about judging others; it’s about upholding God’s unchanging truth. Judgment belongs to Him, and we trust in His mercy and justice. 

 [10] The Answer to Pilate’s Question 

At the courtroom trial with Jesus,

Pilate’s asks question a get himself off the hook of following an objective set of values. Pilate asks, *What is truth? And implies that there is none.

Yet, truth finds its answer in Jesus Christ. He is the light in which there is no darkness, the embodiment of divine truth. Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus reveals the path to salvation. 

As we profess our faith and live out the precepts of the Church, let us remember that our ultimate allegiance is to Christ. In a world full of questions, He is the eternal answer.