From breviary.net, here is Lesson vii from the Feast of Christ the King, a homily of St Augustine.
Christ before Pilate, Albrecht Durer
1512, The Interrogation
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Homilía sancti Augustini Episcopi |
A Homily by St. Augustine the Bishop |
| Tractátus 51 in Joánn. 12-13 ; et tract. 117 in Joánn. 19-21 | |
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Quid magnum fuit Regi sæculórum Regem fíeri hóminum? Non enim Rex Israël Christus ad exigéndum tributum vel exercitum ferro armándum hostesque visibíliter debellándos ; sed Rex Israël, quod mentes regat, quod in ætérnum cónsulat, quod in regnum cælórum credéntes, sperántes amantésque perducat. Dei ergo Fílius æqualis Patri, Verbum per quod facta sunt ómnia, quod Rex esse vóluit Israël, dignátio est, non promotio ; miseratiónis indícium est, non potestátis augméntum. Qui enim appellátus est in terra Rex Judæórum, in cælis est Dóminus Angelórum. Sed Judæórum tantum Rex est Christus, an et Géntium? Imo et Géntium. Cum enim dixísset in prophetía : Ego autem sum constitútus Rex ab eo super Sion montem sanctum ejus, prædicans præcéptum Dómini : ne propter montem Sion solis Judæis eum regem quisquam diceret constitutum, continuo subjécit : Dóminus dixit ad me : Fílius meus es tu, ego hódie génui te ; póstula a me et dabo tibi Gentes hereditátem tuam et possessiónem tuam términos terræ. |
Here was a notable thing, the King of eternity had become the King of mortal men! In what way is it notable? In that Christ did not become the King of Israel to exact tribute, or to arm a body of men, or to conquer visible foes ; but rather that he might rule souls, and counsel them regarding eternity ; and that he might lead to the kingdom of heaven all such as believe in him, hope in him, and love him. In one such as he, it was condescension that he should desire to become the King of Israel. For he was the Son of God, co-equal with the Father, the Word by whom all things were made. To become such a King did not increase his power, but only betokened his mercy. For he who on earth was called the King of the Jews, in heaven was adored as Lord of the Angels. But is Christ King of the Jews only, or of the Gentiles also? Yea, of the Gentiles also. For when it was said of him in the prophetic Psalm : I have set my King upon my holy hill of Sion : lest anyone should say, on account of this word Sion, that he was appointed King of the Jews only, there is straightway added : Desire of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession. |
Christ before Pilate, Tintoretto
1566-1567, Scuola di San Rocco, Venice
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Christ before Pilate and Caiaphas, Donatello
1465, pulpit of Church of San Lorenzo, Florence, Italy
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