And He gave Him power, and honor, and the kingdom, and all peoples, tribes, and languages will serve him. His power is an eternal power, which will not be taken away, and his kingdom, one which will not be corrupted. (Dn 7:14)
וְלֵ֨הּ יְהִ֤יב שָׁלְטָן֙ וִיקָ֣ר וּמַלְכ֔וּ וְכֹ֣ל עַֽמְמַיָּ֗א אֻמַיָּ֛א וְלִשָּׁנַיָּ֖א לֵ֣הּ יִפְלְח֑וּן שָׁלְטָנֵ֞הּ שָׁלְטָ֤ן עָלַם֙ דִּֽי־לָ֣א יֶעְדֵּ֔ה וּמַלְכוּתֵ֖הּ דִּי־לָ֥א תִתְחַבַּֽל׃
et data sunt ei potestas et honor et regnum; et omnes populi, tribus et linguae ipsi servierunt: potestas eius potestas aeterna, quae non auferetur, et regnum eius, quod non corrumpetur.
καὶ ἐδόθη αὐτῷ ἐξουσία, καὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τῆς γῆς κατὰ γένη καὶ πᾶσα δόξα αὐτῷ λατρεύουσα· καὶ ἡ ἐξουσία αὐτοῦ ἐξουσία αἰώνιος, ἥτις οὐ μὴ ἀρθῇ, καὶ ἡ βασιλεία αὐτοῦ, ἥτις οὐ μὴ φθαρῇ.
Power (שָׁלְטָן šolṭan), a Hebrew noun, comes from the root šlṭ, which means “possession of authority,” “power,” or “ruler.”
Today’s first reading (Dan 7:13-14) speaks of the Son of Man receiving dominion (שָׁלְטָן šolṭan), glory, and kingly power from the Eternal One. The prophet Daniel emphasizes that His dominion is an everlasting dominion, unlike the kingdoms of this world, which are temporary.
The Gospel (Jn 18:33-37) presents the scene of a meeting between two rulers: Pilate, a representative of the Roman government, and Jesus, who testifies to his kingdom that it is not of this world, therefore it is not in conflict with any kingdom and Jesus’ servants do not have to fight so that He is not handed over to the hands of his enemies. Even if Pilate makes an unjust judgment, fighting to maintain power, the victory belongs to the Lord Jesus. Pilate will sentence Jesus to crucifixion, but we know that in the Gospel of John the cross means exaltation and glory.
