My kingdom does not belong to this world.
Jn 18: 33b-37
The liturgical year ends with solemnity of Christ the King. Next Sunday would be the First Sunday of Advent.
Are you the king of the Jews?
The official accusation against Jesus was his claim to kingship. That claim makes him an enemy of Rome.
Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?
If the question was coming from Pilate, then the question meant: “Are you a rebel?” If it was coming from the Jewish leadership, then the question meant: “Are you the Messiah?”
My kingdom does not belong to this world.
Therefore, Jesus is not a threat to the rule of Rome over Palestine.
HANDED OVER
“If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews.”
Judas handed Jesus over to the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin handed Jesus over to the Romans. Later the disciples of Jesus would also be handed over to those who would want to put an end to their mission.
In the New Testament, the verb “hand over” is not always used in the negative sense. In 1 Cor 11:2 we read: “I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you.”
He says the same thing in 2Thess 2:15. “Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.”
Tradition is to be understood as the faith being handed over from one generation to the next.
Faith is to be taken in a wide sense. It includes Scriptures and the Sacraments. It includes customs and practices such as the requirement that the bishop be celibate. This is the reason why while Anglican married priests can be ordained as Catholic priests and remain married, but only unmarried Anglican priests can be consecrated bishops.
(unfinished)
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