As the Liturgical Year comes to an end, we are reminded, one last time, of the focus of Christ’s life, which is also our calling – the Reign of God. It is tempting to view Christ’s Reign as a conquering, all-powerful, phenomenon that will violently destroy human power systems, but that would be to misunderstand it. Rather, what the readings reveal is a Reign that is not of this world, that is a completely different reality, and that works within human systems, even as it subverts them toward justice, peace and love.
The Reign of God has always been a central focus of the worship of God’s people. From the time of the promise to David of an eternal dynasty, the vision of the Reign of God’s Monarch has been the hope of God’s people. Yet, the challenge has always been to understand God’s Reign as of a completely different order from human power systems. In Samuel and in Psalm 132, the “descendant of David” is contrasted with godless people whose lives are wasted, and is associated with worship and God’s presence.
Finally, in the encounter between Jesus and Pilate, the difference between human rulership and God’s Reign is starkly shown, as Jesus explains that he claims no human kingship, but is the king of a realm that is not of this world. It is a kingdom of truth and justice.
The challenge of this week’s celebration is to avoid triumphalism. We are not to make God’s Reign out to be the same as human power systems, only stronger, more dominant, and longer lasting.
Rather, we are to recognise God’s Reign in acts of compassion and justice, in service and sacrifice, and in the challenge to human systems to give up their obsession with war and conquest in order to build a world of peace and love for all.