“What is truth?”

That is the missing question from this week’s lectionary reading. It’s an important question.

As we celebrate Reign of Christ Sunday, we find ourselves watching Jesus’ interaction with Pilate the eve before his death. The Jewish authorities have handed him to the Romans in hope they will sentence him to death, as the Priests and Pharisees had no power to do so in their own courts. This would be the only way they could remove this “dissident” from under their skin.

As Pilate reluctantly interviews Jesus, he tries to get to the bottom of what’s “truly” going on. He first asks him, “Are you King of the Jews?”

Jesus answers with a question, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you this?”

Pilate replies: “I’m not a Jew, am I?” “Your own people and the chief priests have …