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I would like to begin with an extract from an article “The
Road from Ibizza” by Claire Roberts that appeared on The
Tablet issue of October 21. The author refers to the
Archbishop Vincent Nichols of Birmingham who evaluates the
culture today
The assault on modern culture is led by the three Ps:
Power, Popularity and Possession. In the face of our
culture’s preoccupation with the three Ps, Archbishop
Nichols suggested a counter attack in the form of the
three Ss: power can be conquered with solidarity, the need
for popularity with spirituality; and the consuming desire
for possessions with simplicity. By living simply,
possessed only by God, in solidarity with one another, we
can resist the materially driven world, and its empty
promises, and find the only true fulfillment
This is the way of Jesus. This is the kingdom that he
proclaimed. He too was tempted with the three Ps of our
time. The devil in the desert tempted him to jump from the
top of the mountain in order to show his miraculous power
and popularity. The devil promised him the possession of
the kingdoms if he worshipped him. The temptation to
become a king was present all the time in the life of
Jesus. After the multiplication of bread the people are
overcome with a kind of messianic excitement and come to
crown him a king. But Jesus, troubled in his heart, goes
to the mountain alone to pray. On the cross those who
mocked him say if you are the king of Israel come down
from the cross. Jesus did not yield to them. He becomes
king not by getting down from the cross but precisely by
dying on the cross.
Jesus is aware of the power given to him by his Father.
But he uses that power to love and serve. Notice the way
John narrates the scene of the washing of the feet at the
last Supper: “Jesus knowing that the Father had given all
things into his hands, and that he had come from God and
going to God, rose from supper, laid aside his garments,
and girded himself with a towel. Then he poured water into
a basin, and began to wash his disciples’ feet” (Jn
13:3-5a). It is precisely when he is aware of the power
that has been granted to him he humbles and washes the
feet of the disciples
When the woman who was caught in the act of adultery is
brought him and all those who had come to stone her had
fed, Jesus is alone with the sinner. Being sinless, he was
the only one who had the right to stone her. However,
Jesus looks at the woman with compassion and tells neither
will I stone you; go sin no more. This was the way Jesus
used the power that he had. His kingdom was that of
compassion as he declares in the synagogue of Nazareth at
the very beginning of his ministry: The Spirit of the Lord
is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the good
news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to
the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, and set
at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the
acceptable year of the Lord” (Lk 4:18-19
It is at the trial before Pilate that the nature of his
kingship is brought out. Pilate does not understand it. He
thinks only of a political king, a rival to Caesar. Jesus
says: “My kingship is not of this world….You say that I am
a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into
the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is
of the truth hears my voice”. His is the kingdom of truth.
Pilate whose life is far from the truth is not able to
understand what Jesus says. By truth John means
revelation: revelation of the unconditional love and
forgiveness of God. To reveal this truth Jesus had to die
on the cross. To enter his kingdom one needs to accept
this truth.
Timothy Radcliffe reminds us that when truth is distorted
violence is the result. A kingdom of truth is what
everyone desires in a world that is promoting a culture of
lies, where the corruption is accepted standard. The
origin of his kingdom is God. Those who are united to God
in an earnest prayer can only appreciate his kingdom. Only
they will know the greatness of the mission of proclaiming
his kingdom. It is not the mission of baptizing and making
converts. It is the mission of promoting the message of
Jesus through a life that is lived by him |
