Reflection for Sunday 23 November, 2025

Christ the King

Jesus Christ, the Universal King (Luke 23:35-43)

Today, the last Sunday of the liturgical year, is when we celebrate Jesus Christ, the Universal King.  In today’s Gospel, Luke takes us to the foot of the cross on Calvary.  At the end of Jesus’ journey, over his head, his crime was posted, “Jesus Christ, King of the Jews.”  How many took the charge seriously?  Did anybody of sane sense really think that he was a threat to Caesar or to public order?  The irony of that day was that he was a king, though not in a way that the worldly mind could understand.

A king different to earthly royalty

Jesus as king was the reversal of the ways usually followed by the royalty of this world.  He did not sit on an elevated throne to symbolize his power, but he hung from a cross, too weak to save himself from death.

"Jesus Christ, King of the Jews”

 He did not wear a bejewelled crown but he was capped with a crown of sharp thorns, an appalling sight, without beauty, without majesty, a thing despised and rejected by people.  He had no armies at his command nor servants in attendance: instead, he came to serve and to offer his life as a ransom for many.  Earthly kings were usually removed from commoners who must keep their eyes downcast and may not speak until they are first spoken to.   Jesus came to his own and sought the lowliest of them.  He was of the tribe of David:  David was a shepherd boy who became a king while Jesus was a king who became the Good Shepherd who was willing to lay down his life for his flock.  As Isaiah wrote, “Ours were the sufferings he bore, ours the sorrows he carried.”

The girl from Donegal

You have probably heard of Clare Crockett, a wild girl from Derry, a brilliant actress who had been offered a future by film producers.  Some of her friends drew her towards religion.  She could not resist a free ticket to go to Spain for Holy Week.  On Good Friday, people came in line to kiss the crucifix.  She didn’t know why they did it, but as she kissed the cross, she had a mystical experience.  Ours were the suffering he bore, ours the sorrows he carried.  All he could say to her friend was, “He died for me, he loved me.”  She turned her back to life as an actress and resolved that she would give her life to God.

Between two thieves

Luke is the only evangelist who tells us that Jesus on the cross was between two condemned criminals.  One of them joined with those who were mocking and taunting, but the other spoke up and rebuked his companion.  “Have you no fear of God at all?  We got the same sentence as he did, we deserved it.  But this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he turned to Jesus and uttered one of the most wonderful prayers of all time.  “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

It is interesting that this is the only occasion in Luke’s Gospel that Jesus is addressed simply by name with no title like Lord or Master attached.  In the brotherhood of suffering there are no distinctions of privilege or class.  “This day I promise you will be with me in paradise.”  But this is not the end because in dying, Jesus has overcome death, and has opened the gates of paradise.  In the end is my beginning.

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”