Jesus' Kingdom is not of this world

November 26, 2006 -- 34th or Last Sunday in Ordinary Time / Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King

By Fr. Michael Stubbs

	Fr. Mike Stubbs

I have lived in the United Kingdom, I have traveled to the Kingdom of Spain, I have visited Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom. Whenever we hear the word, kingdom, we usually think of a geographical location.

On the other hand, the Oxford English Dictionary offers as its first definition of that word the following: "kingly function, authority or power, sovereignty, supreme rule; the position or rank of a king, kingship." There, "kingdom" is a function, not a location.

That is the definition which best fits this Sunday's gospel reading. In reply to Pilate's questions, Jesus says, "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."

On the surface, it may look as though Jesus is claiming to be a king temporarily absent from his own territory and visiting another's. We may suppose that the word "kingdom" refers to a place. In that case, Jesus would govern a spiritual, heavenly realm completely distinct from this earth, a kingdom populated by angels rather than human beings. But he does not say that.

"My kingdom does not belong to this world" can be translated more accurately "My kingdom is not of this world." In fact, that is the more traditional translation. In other words, Jesus is telling us, "My kingly authority does not originate from this world. My power as king is not based upon force of arms, as in the case of worldly kings who command armies to protect them. If it were, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews."

Jesus is pointing out to Pilate that his role as king does not pose a direct threat to the Roman Empire. Jesus is not leading an army to overthrow the government. There is no reason for Pilate to fear an insurrection. In speaking this way, Jesus is defending himself from the charges of sedition and treason leveled against him. That is one way to interpret Jesus' comments. And that makes perfect sense.

At the same time, Jesus is making a theological point. The kingdom which Jesus discusses in his dialogue with Pilate is linked to the kingdom described by his parables in the synoptic gospels. We might remember that those parables frequently begin with the words, "The kingdom of God is like, ... ." It is one and the same kingdom.

By accepting the title of "king," Jesus is acknowledging that he is the instrument of God's Kingdom. He is the one who has been bringing God's kingdom into this world by means of his miracles and teachings. Through Jesus, God's mercy and love can reign in this world.

In his conversation with Pilate, then, Jesus is continuing those teachings he began long ago on the hills of Galilee. He is giving a lesson to a new student, in the person of Pilate. And by means of the gospel, we also benefit from that exchange.

(Fr. Stubbs, a priest of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kansas, has a master's degree in theology from Harvard.)