Solemnity of Christ the King of the Universe Franciscan Gospel Reflection

Franciscan Friar Fr. Paul Gallagher reflects on the Gospel readings for the Solemnity of Jesus Christ the King of the Universe. What are your images of Kings? How might they be images of God?

The content is edited by Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Anne Marie Lom and Joe Thiel. The excerpts from the Sunday readings are prepared by Joe Thiel. To read or download the complete pdf with excerpts for your prayer, please click here: Franciscan Gospel Reflection November 23 2025. Excerpts are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Photos: Find a feast day window from Holy Spirit, Kimberly, Wisconsin. The pastor of this Catholic Community in the Appleton Fox Valley area is Fr. Carl Schmitt. His parents Mary Ann and Jim were long time faithful Manitowoc Serrans.

Lk 23:35-43.

[The people stood by and watched;] the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at Jesus and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Messiah 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.” Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.”

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us.” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

Background:

This may seem like a strange text for the feast of “Christ the King.” The people, the rulers, the soldiers, and even one of the criminals hanging on a cross all mock Jesus. From their point of view, Jesus appears to be just another pathetic Jew caught up in the Roman system of justice. He hangs on a cross with his crime posted so that those passing can ridicule him. He is a reminder to everyone of what happens to those who challenge the authority that the Roman governors and soldiers are there to enforce. But as often is the case in scripture, statements made in ridicule reveal Jesus ‘reality: not “a king,” but the King of Kings.

Jesus does not respond to any who taunt him, but only to the criminal, who first testifies to Jesus’ innocence and then requests that Jesus remember him when he comes into his kingdom. Jesus promises to honor his request. In this gesture of compassion, Jesus reveals the authority that is his. The rest of the bystanders remain blind to the reality of who Jesus really is.

This Gospel text also reveals how Luke has developed his Gospel for those who might like to reflect more deeply and appreciate Luke’s understanding of Jesus as King.  It will be helpful to become familiar again with the description Luke gives of Jesus’ temptation in the desert (Luke 4:1-13):

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.'” Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written: ‘You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve.'” Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written: ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and: ‘With their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'”  Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.'” When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.

As Luke describes the temptation of Jesus, he portrays Jesus as being faithful to God where Adam had failed. By eating the fruit of the forbidden tree, Adam lost his status as the son of God (Genesis 3:1-7), but Jesus refused to turn stones into bread for food even though he had not eaten for forty days. In the creation story, Adam had been given dominion over all (Genesis 1:26-30), but he still longed to be like God (Genesis 2:17; 3:19). In the second temptation, the devil offers Jesus power over the whole world, but he chooses to be subject to God’s will for him. In the garden, Adam is told that if he eats of the fruit he will not die. In the desert, the Devil says that if he throws himself off the temple, he will not die, but be rescued my angels. Most important here is the last line of the text: “When the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from him for a time.” Luke’s description of Jesus’ being ridiculed during his final hours is mirrored by his temptations in the desert. The temptations are based on Jesus being faithful in his relationship to the Father: “If you are the Christ of God, the chosen one…” Both here and in the desert, Jesus is tempted to escape the drudgery of being human and of death. Those taunting him believe that because he is the “Son of God,” he should not have to die. But Jesus remains the faithful Son of God and is obedient to the Father, even to death on a cross. His obedience is life-giving, and it affects God’s relationship to the whole world, just as Adam’s disobedience affected God’s relationship to creation.

In celebrating Jesus as King, the church uses a familiar image in a way that expresses spiritual reality. This reality is more significant for Christians than the importance of earthly kingdoms that are based in power over another. Jesus exhibits a surrender of power so that the power of God can be revealed. The reality of God’s kingdom is revealed in the person of Jesus in Luke’s Gospel and in Luke’s Acts of the Apostles. It is also made real for us in the lives of the holy men and women who have faced the powerful with the spirit of Jesus’ surrender here, and changed the world forever.

Reflection Questions:

1. What are your images of Kings? How might they be images of God?
2. Why do you think the Church has chosen this Gospel text for the church’s reflection on this feast of Christ the King?
3. In our text, Jesus is given the titles “Messiah,” and “King of the Jews.” The criminal referred to Jesus as “this man.” What are some the ways you refer to Jesus in your own personal prayer? What do those “titles” say to you about your relationship with Jesus?
4. Jesus did not respond to most of the people in the text. Do you ever feel like you are praying or even calling out to God, but there seems to be no response? Does this text give you any insights?
5. Can you take some time to talk with God about your personal understanding of Jesus as a king, the Church’s use of the title “King,” or insights and feelings that arose within you while reflecting on this Gospel?