Feast of Christ the King / The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

11/23/2025 (Sunday) Today’s Gospel reading: Luke 23:35-43

35 The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.”
36 Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine
37 they called out, “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.”
38 Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.”
40 The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation?
41 And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.”
42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
43 He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

11/23/2025 (Sunday) Today’s Gospel reflection / homily / sermon: Luke 23:35-43

“THE KING WHO SAVES FROM THE CROSS”

On the Feast of Christ the King, we reflect on a scene that seems, at first glance, the opposite of kingship: Jesus suffering on the cross, mocked by leaders, soldiers, and even those crucified beside Him. In a world that equates kingship with power, wealth, and domination, Jesus reveals a kingship of compassion, mercy, and self-giving love. His throne is a cross. His crown is made of thorns. His royal robe is the wounds He carries for humanity. And yet, in this moment of apparent defeat, the true identity of the King is revealed.

Many people around the cross challenged Him: “Save yourself.” Their idea of a king was someone who escapes suffering, asserts authority, and proves His strength through visible power. But Jesus did not come to save Himself—He came to save us. In refusing to come down from the cross, He showed a greater power than mere force: the power of love that endures, forgives, and restores.

Amid the insults and disbelief, one voice breaks through, a criminal hanging beside Jesus. He sees what others fail to see: the innocence of Christ, His mercy, and His true kingship. While others saw a defeated man, he saw a King who holds a kingdom beyond this world. With humility, he makes a simple yet profound request: to be remembered by Jesus. And the King responds, not with judgment, but with assurance and welcome. This moment reveals the heart of Christ the King: a King whose greatest victory is the salvation of souls, whose greatest triumph is the opening of paradise to the repentant.

This is the kingship we celebrate today, one that transforms hopelessness into promise, brokenness into healing, and death into life. Christ the King does not rule with fear but with a love that invites every person to come home. His kingdom is not built on domination but on mercy. His reign is not about forcing allegiance but offering grace.

In our modern world, we often look for kings in the wrong places. We are tempted to let success, money, status, or popularity rule our hearts. Social media crowns people overnight; society praises those who appear powerful or flawless. Yet these “kingdoms” are fragile. They crumble under pressure, fade with time, and leave the heart empty. The Cross invites us to recognize a different kind of King, One who rules not by controlling us but by freeing us from sin, fear, and despair.

We also live in a world where many feel like the criminal on the cross: burdened by past mistakes, judged by others, or trapped in situations that seem hopeless. But Christ the King reminds us that redemption is always possible. No one is too far gone, too broken, or too late for the mercy of God. The King who opened paradise for a dying man extends the same invitation to each of us today.

Following Christ the King means acknowledging Him as the ruler of our hearts, homes, and decisions. It means choosing forgiveness over hatred, integrity over convenience, compassion over indifference. It means allowing His love to transform our relationships, our priorities, and our way of life.

And just like the repentant criminal, we are called to see Jesus not only as Savior but as the King who does not abandon us in our suffering, the King who reigns even in our darkest moments, the King whose victory is eternal.

As we celebrate this feast, may we renew our commitment to live under His gracious reign. May His kingship guide our thoughts, shape our choices, and inspire our actions. And may we echo the prayer of the man on the cross: “Lord, remember me.” Because in the kingdom of Christ the King, those who seek Him with humility always find mercy, hope, and everlasting life.

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