November 2025 Reflection

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Christ the King

Sr. Cecilia, CFR

The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, "He saved others, let him save himself if he is

the chosen one, the Christ of God. Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached

to offer him wine they called out, ‘If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.’" (Lk.

23:35-37)

This, the opening of the Gospel for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ,

King of the Universe, is not exactly what one expects to hear on such a triumphant day.

Indeed, in the Preface before the Eucharistic Prayer we will hear: “For you [the Father]

anointed your Only Begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, with the oil of gladness as eternal Priest and King of all creation so that… he might present to the immensity of your

majesty an eternal and universal kingdom….” So why the Crucifixion for the Gospel

reading?

St. Paul gives us an indication in the second reading when he says: “He [the Father] delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his

beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:13-14).

Now we are focusing in. Jesus is a King, St. Paul tells us, and the Father has brought us

into His Kingdom. We know that Jesus did not come to establish an earthly kingdom. In

fact, one small, short-lived earthly kingdom could never compare with the great, universal, everlasting kingdom of heaven. Kings, presidents, dictators, realms, states, republics

come and go. In comparison with eternity, they rise and fall in the blink of an eye.

Jesus did not come to establish a kingdom in one place for one people at one time,

but rather to bring all people of all times into the kingdom of heaven—all, that is, who

open their hearts to accept Him. Christ did this, He opened heaven to us, through His

cross and resurrection. “For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through

him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Col. 1:19-

20). The Lord won for us forgiveness of our sins, and made it possible for the kingdom

of heaven to break in to earth, by uniting us with Him, by reigning in our hearts and

souls and lives. God’s kingdom grows as souls are won for Him.

So the cross is at the center of this feast day, as it is at the center of our faith, because there Christ won the victory over sin and death for us. His victory signals His

kingly triumph, winning us, that is, giving us the possibility to receive heaven as our inheritance. And so St. Miguel Pro, the Mexican priest and martyr whose memorial we

celebrate on November 23rd, could extend his arms in the form of a cross while facing a

firing squad and cry out, “Viva Cristo Rey!*” as the shots fired out which took his life.

He knew his King was already victorious; he knew that victory was won on the cross.

He was not afraid to embrace the cross in union with the King of Kings. He knew an incomparable inheritance lay before him. He knew the love of Christ.

But what about those of us who are not yet saints and don’t have the courage to

face the trials of a martyr? Well, if—as we will hear in the Gospel—the good thief could

confess belief in Christ and hear the words, “Today you will be with me in paradise,”

then surely we who already know and love Him can open our hearts to Him today and

say, “Thy kingdom come.” Yes, Lord, may Thy Kingdom come anew, here and now, in my life. Amen