OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST KING OF THE UNIVERSE
23 NOVEMBER 2025
Since
the revolt of the thirteen colonies against King George of England, we
Americans have had an ambiguous relationship with kings. Even if we are not big on kings, we can have a
proper understanding of the true identity of Jesus Christ as king by hearing
the wonderful hymn about Jesus Christ in Saint Paul’s second letter to the
Colossians. In giving thanks to the
Father for the gift of Jesus Christ, he proclaims that the Lord was present at
the creation of the world and that he continues to preserve the world through
his death and resurrection. Although
Saint Paul does not mention the word “king,” he points out the attributes of a
king in Jesus Christ. He unifies
everything in creation and provides a dwelling place. The one who sheds his blood on the cross
reconciles and is the source of ultimate peace.
However,
today’s Gospel gives a very different perspective of Jesus as king. As he hangs dying on the most horrible
instrument of death that the Romans could invent, three groups of people
verbally abuse him. The leaders of the
people sneer at him, making fun of his claim to be the Messiah. If he is the chosen one of God, they insist,
he can save himself. The soldiers who crucified
him and divided his garments jeer at him.
They defy him to come down from the cross and save himself, if he truly
is the king of the Jews. Ironically,
Jesus never claimed that title for himself.
Pilate had put the inscription on the cross to defend himself from the
charges that the crowds had forced him.
He was protecting Roman authority.
He also uses the title to mock this peasant from Galilee. He intends it as a warning to anyone who
would rebel against the Roman Empire.
One of the criminals reviles him, repeating the charges made against him
by the leaders of the people and the soldiers.
If he really is the Christ, then he must save himself and those
criminals crucified with him.
Ironically,
those three groups mocking the crucified Christ are also speaking the ultimate
truth about him. The leaders of the
people speak the truth without knowing it.
He truly is the chosen one of God.
But the Father had chosen him, not to defeat the enemies of Israel, but
to defeat the power of death by entering into death himself. The soldiers speak the truth about the power
of Jesus to save. But, he has spent his
entire life saving everyone else, including them, and not himself. The criminal dying with him makes the same
claim, arguing that Jesus should save himself and the other criminal.
However,
the other criminal, whom we know as the good thief, understands. He knows that Jesus is completely innocent,
unlike himself and the other criminal.
They have been justly condemned because of their crimes. He acknowledges the true and authentic
kingship of Jesus and asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his
kingdom. Of all the participants on that
terrible day, he alone makes a profound profession of faith.
Just before
today’s Gospel passage, Saint Luke says that the people stood there
watching. That is what Saint Luke is
inviting us to do. We are painfully
aware that our world’s kingdoms are built on power, wealth, and prestige. Those are not the foundations of the kingdom
of God. On this final Sunday of this
Liturgical year and November when we remember those who have died, we know that
the kingdoms of our world will not last.
We know that the world’s leaders are limited and sinful. The Second Book of Samuel offers the example
of David as the ideal king of Israel, knowing that he was guilty of adultery,
murder, and deceit. We are invited to
stand and contemplate the ultimate victory won for us by Jesus Christ, the
chosen one, the king, and the messiah.
He reigns not from a magnificent throne, but from a cross. He promises to remember us when he comes into
his kingdom, as he promised the good thief on that fateful day.
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