Pow!

Seeing the power of goodness

John 18:33B-37

Pilate said to Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own or have others told you about me?" Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?"  Jesus answered, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here." So Pilate said to him, "Then you are a king?"  Jesus answered, "You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

          During the final days of World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill sat down with Russian leader Joseph Stalin to discuss the fate of Eastern Europe, which Stalin wanted very much to become communist. Churchill cautioned Stalin to take into account the views of the pope before taking any action in Eastern Europe. To which Stalin scoffed insolently, and said: “And how many divisions does the pope of Rome have??” In other words, all that matters is military might, that’s what rules and runs the world, not the opinions of a pope in white robes, protected by an army wearing pantaloons that look like pajamas! For Stalin, “might makes right.”

          Do you remember that black-and-white T.V. show called “The Honeymooners”? Whenever Ralph (he was the husband) lost an argument to his wife, Alice, he would get mad and threatened her by saying, “One of these days, Alice, pow! Right in the kisser!” That’s why Isaac Azimov, the science fiction novelist, said, “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.” Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. That is, the incompetent rely on violence because they believe “might makes right.”

          But does it? Is might right? Where is Communist Eastern Europe today? One by one, country after country dominated by dictators has thrown off their communist chains and breathed the free air of democracy. And Pope John Paul II played a major role in the downfall of communism in Eastern Europe. Why? Because might does not make right, instead, right makes might. You see, there is another power in the world stronger than weapons, even nuclear weapons, and that is the power of goodness. In the end, the pope wins not the czar, Alice wins not Ralph, because right is might.

          In the gospel today we see the same struggle is afoot: which is stronger, might or right? On the one hand you have Pontius Pilate, representing the Roman Empire, interrogating Jesus. And what does he ask? He wants to know if Jesus is a king. Like Stalin, Pilate is asking, “And how many divisions does Jesus have?? In this world, might makes right; just look at how we Romans rule the world. If anyone disagrees with us, it’s, ‘Pow! Right in the kisser!’” But Jesus responds, “My kingdom does not belong to this world,” and later he adds, “I came into the world to testify to the truth.” Like the popes, Jesus’ power is truth and goodness and love, not weapons of mass destruction but the weapons of holiness and grace. But which one is stronger? Well, where is the Roman Empire today? It is merely a heap of rubble and ruins. And where is the Church Jesus established today? It is over one billions members strong. In the end, Jesus wins not Pilate, the pope wins not the czar, Alice wins not Ralph, because “violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.”

          Today I want you to take a minute to consider sending your son or daughter to Trinity Junior High. Why? Well because besides being an excellent school, we also teach them a deeper truth, that right makes might. That is, we teach them that there is a power in the world stronger than military weapons, stronger than political parties, stronger than the wealth of Wall Street. And that is the power of God’s goodness and grace. Coach Jeff Meares (whom we’re very happy to have back at Trinity this year) put it perfectly when he told a prospective student about our football program, saying, “We may not win many games, but we sure will laugh a lot!” That laughter is a sign of the joy of Jesus, and the power of goodness, and truth and right. By the way, there are four captains of the Southside football team this year; of those four do you know how many are Trinity graduates? All four of them are. Do you know what I think about that? “Pow! Right in the kisser!”

          My friends, Trinity Junior High will teach your children what real power is, and what Isaac Azimov meant when he said, “Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.” Trinity will teach your children that in the end Jesus wins, and so do all those who believe in him.

          Praised be Jesus Christ!