Gospel Reflections for November 24 2024: 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel for November 24 2024 – John 18:33-37

Gospel Reflections for November 24 2024

Your phone is ringing… 

Some cell phones have caller ID that tells you who is calling. 

You can decide then whether to drop everything and answer, or call back later …or not at all! I am sure you know people that you answer right away and those that you don’t. How do you react when your phone rings? Who would you drop everything for to answer? 

The Pharisees noticed that people were dropping everything to follow Jesus …and resented it. They slowly built their case against Him until finally Our Lord is arrested and brought before Pilate; the scene in today’s Gospel. 

Pilate is the local Roman authority and an immensely cruel ruler. However, he sees that Jesus commands a lot of attention from the crowd. Perhaps it takes one in command to recognize that same power in someone else. Perhaps that is also why Pilate asks, what at first seems a strange question, Are you the King of the Jews? 

He would never ask that of a simple peasant, unless he sensed Jesus wasn’t just a simple peasant! Perhaps Pilate recognized in the noble bearing and behavior of Jesus a man who is supremely confident and profoundly secure in who He was, even while facing death. 

Pilate even engages Our Lord in conversation, something unheard of for a Roman ruler with a prisoner. Jesus directly engages Pilate too, boldly, confidently, and courageously. 

No wonder so many dropped everything to follow Jesus. People could see then, as you can today, that the person of Jesus had the bearing and behavior of a Holy One sent from Heaven, and the authoritative revelation of the Father’s love. He is the Son of God who takes away the sins of the world. He is the One who can provide happiness for your life here and in eternal life forever. 

Pilate would never have believed …that just a few generations after this short conversation … more than half of the mighty Roman Empire would convert to the Catholic Church …and even the Emperor himself would become Catholic …all because of the bold and confident man who was standing before him that day.

There is no better person to connect with than Our Lord for whatever you are facing now in your life. Our Lord is calling you today to follow Him even more closely …starting right now.

God Bless!

Fr. Dave