Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

The Feast of Christ the King, November 23, 2025 Today, as we come to the very end of our Church calendar, we celebrate one of the most magnificent feasts of the year: The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. When you hear the word "king," you might think of gold, jewels, and powerful armies. But the Bible tells us a very different story about Jesus’s kingship. His throne was a cross, his crown was made of thorns, and his royal court was made up of soldiers making fun of him and criminals hanging next to him. This is not the powerful king the world expects, but it is the loving leader the world truly needs. When we look at our Scripture readings today, we see a King who turns all those ideas upside down. In the First Reading, the people of Israel finally anoint David as their king. This was the traditional way of things. David was a great military leader, a strong protector. He was the kind of king they needed to secure their borders and build their nation. He was an earthly king. In the Second Reading, St. Paul gives us the grand, cosmic view of Christ’s Kingship. He tells the Colossians—and us—that Jesus is the & "image of the invisible God." Everything was created through Him and for Him. He is the head of the Church. St. Paul gives us the true definition of royalty: Jesus does not just rule a country; He holds the universe together. But how did He achieve this cosmic reconciliation? Paul tells us: through the blood of His cross. This brings us to the shocking scene in our Gospel from Luke. Where is Christ the King? He is not on a mighty throne. He is hanging on a cross, stripped naked, suffering, and dying. His crown is made of thorns. His royal title is mocked: "The King of the Jews." Everyone around Him uses this moment to challenge His claim to power. The leaders sneer: "He saved others; let him save himself." One of the criminals hanging beside Him joins the mocking: "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us." This scene forces us to ask: What kind of King is this? This King is utterly powerless by the world’s standards. Yet, in this moment of ultimate weakness, Jesus performs the most powerful act of His reign. He exercises His kingly power to forgive, redeem, and save. The second criminal, whom we often call the "good thief", sees past the pain and the wood. He sees past the mockery. He sees the true Kingdom shining forth from the heart of the suffering man. He does not ask to be saved from the cross, but to be saved through the cross. With simple, profound faith, he says "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." And Christ the King responds with the final, absolute word of His authority: “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” This is the central teaching of the feast of Christ the King: His throne is the Cross. His power is not found in dominating others, but in serving them; not in demanding sacrifice, but in being the sacrifice; not in taking life, but in giving eternal life. His Kingdom is a Kingdom of truth, of grace, of holiness, of justice, of love, and of peace. My friends, the King of the Universe rules not with force, but with love. His throne is the Cross, and His crown is our salvation. If we want to make Jesus King of our lives, we don't build Him a beautiful palace; we choose to serve the poor, the sick, and the lonely, because He told us: "Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me" We crown Him King every time we choose humility over pride, forgiveness over anger, and service over selfishness. Let us ask Jesus, our great and gentle King, to remember us—not just today, but every day—and lead us into His eternal Kingdom.