Feast of Christ the King
(34th and last Sunday of the Year) November 23, 2025
2 Samuel 5:1-3; Colossians 1:12-20; Luke 23:35-4323, 2025
There is a story told about a traveller who was moving through a desert in search of a wise master. He had heard that this master was a great ruler who led people with compassion and truth. After a long journey he finally reached a large tent. He expected to find guards, servants and a leader dressed in royal robes. Instead he saw a simple man seated before a small fire. The man was warming his hands and preparing a bowl of broth for an old stranger who had wandered in earlier.
The traveller waited. Surely the master would come from another tent. After a while he asked the simple man beside the fire, “Where is the master whom I have travelled so far to meet?” The man looked at him gently and said, “I am the one you seek.” The traveller was confused. “But you do not look like a ruler.” The master smiled and replied, “True authority is not measured by the throne one sits on. It is measured by the amount of love one can offer in every moment.”
This story helps us step into the celebration of Christ the King. Today, the Church invites us to recognise the kind of kingship Jesus reveals. It is unlike any earthly rule. The readings offer us a window into His authority, His mission and His kingdom.
The First World War had just come to an end. Secularism was on the rise and dangerous dictatorships were emerging in Europe and beyond. Christ had long been referred to as King, but Pope could see the respect and reverence for Christ’s authority waning in the midst of the unrest during the first part of the 20th century. In response, the feast was set with the intention of reaffirming and refocusing faith and respect in the kingship of Jesus.
Pope Pius XI felt that nations would see that the Church has the right to freedom, and immunity from the state. Secondly, that leaders and nations would see that they are bound to give respect to Christ. Finally, the faithful would gain strength and courage from the celebration of the feast, as we are reminded that Christ must reign in our hearts, minds, wills, and bodies.
The First Reading from the Second Book of Samuel speaks of the moment when the tribes of Israel recognised David as their shepherd and their ruler. They said, “You are bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh.” They saw in David a leader who knew their struggles and shared their life. David did not stand above them like a distant authority. He walked with them. This prepares us to understand the kingship of Jesus. If David was close to his people, Jesus is even closer. The Son of God enters our humanity fully. He becomes bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. His throne is a cross. His crown is made of thorns. His sceptre is mercy.
The Gospel takes us to Calvary. It is striking that on this feast of Christ the King we do not hear about the triumph of Easter morning or the glory of the Ascension. Instead, we hear the last painful hours of Jesus on the cross. People mock Him. They challenge Him to save Himself. Soldiers ridicule Him. Yet in this moment of apparent defeat, His true kingship shines most brightly. He is a king who does not crush His enemies. He forgives them. He is a king who welcomes the outsider. He assures the repentant criminal that he will be with Him in paradise. He is a king who reigns from a cross to show that love is stronger than hatred and mercy is greater than violence.
The good thief, often called the repentant criminal, gives us a powerful example. He recognises the innocence of Jesus. He turns to Him with humility and trust. His simple plea, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom,” becomes one of the most beautiful prayers ever spoken. Jesus responds with immediate compassion and promises him eternal life. In this exchange we see the heart of our King. Jesus does not look at the criminal with judgement. He looks at him with mercy. That moment reveals the entire purpose of His mission.
As we celebrate Christ the King we are invited to reflect on what His rule means for our lives today. The world often teaches us that authority means control, success and domination. But Jesus shows us another path. His authority flows from service. His greatness is seen in compassion. His power is revealed in His willingness to give Himself fully for others.
So what can we take home from this feast?
Let the kingship of Christ shape our identity:
We belong to His kingdom of light. That means our lives are not ruled by fear, jealousy or anger. We are called to live with courage, serenity and hope. The more we allow Christ to reign in our hearts the more our thoughts, words and actions will reflect His gentleness and truth.
Let us Allow Christ to guide our relationships:
Jesus is a king who heals and reconciles. In our families, workplaces and communities we often face misunderstandings and disagreements. His example invites us to be instruments of peace. A word of patience, a gesture of forgiveness, a willingness to listen can transform difficult situations. When we act with mercy we extend His kingdom.
Learn to recognise Christ in the unexpected places:
Just as the traveller found the master sitting near the fire and not in a palace, we often meet the Lord in simple or challenging moments. He is present in the poor, the sick, the lonely and the troubled. When we care for them we honour our King. The more we open our hearts to those in need the more we make His kingdom visible.
Let us Trust in the promise of Jesus:
Like the repentant criminal, we can turn to Him even in our weakest moments. His kingdom is a place of welcome for all who seek Him. No failure is too great for His mercy. No wound is too deep for His healing. He promises paradise to those who trust in Him.
As we stand at the end of the liturgical year, this feast becomes a gentle reminder. Our lives, our struggles and our future rest in the hands of a King who loves us beyond measure. His kingdom is not temporary. It is everlasting. His rule does not pass away. It brings life, peace and joy.
May we allow Jesus our King to reign in our hearts. May His truth guide our choices. May His compassion shape our actions. May His mercy inspire our relationships. And may His presence strengthen us as we step into a new year of grace.
Happy Feast
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