GROW AS A DISCIPLE | PRAY, STUDY, ENGAGE, SERVE

GROW: If we reflect on today’s Gospel, it might be hard for us to envision Jesus ever dressed like an actual king! When Pontius Pilate asked him if he was a king, Jesus responded, “If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over.” Imagine: Jesus had spent the night in agony; his friends had all abandoned him; and, in a few verses, Pilate will deliver him to be scourged. He must have felt, at that moment, like anything but a king. But, indeed, he was (and is) the Creator of the Universe and its rightful king. We Christians – called, like Jesus’ first disciples, to be his friends and followers – should do everything we can to proclaim him as king of our hearts, our families, our lives, and our society.

GO EVANGELIZE | PRAYER, INVITATION, WITNESS, ACCOMPANIMENT

GO: There is a tradition of placing an image of Jesus’ Sacred Heart in a prominent place in the home. The idea is to “enthrone” Jesus as king of the home and the family; there is even a small ceremony to go along with the enthronement. In one of the most famous images of the Sacred Heart, Jesus wears a magnificent crown, holds a scepter in his right hand, and carries the earth in his left hand. We see, from this picture, Jesus as a king with a glorious crown who holds the world in his hand – but he does so with a heart burning with love! He loves us so much that he wishes to extend the reign of his love to every human being on earth. We can cooperate with him in this by “enthroning” him as king of our hearts and our homes and allowing his love to impact everything we do and say. By our willingness to welcome God into every aspect of our lives, we will become witnesses of his love to others.

INVITE: This week, take one opportunity to invite someone to pray with you. They could be dinner guests, a coworker, or a friend you meet for coffee. Whoever it is, ask him or her if there are any particular intentions you can bring to God in prayer. By doing this, you remind your friend of God’s constant presence and his desire to be part of all of your joys, sorrows, and anxieties.