CHRIST THE KING: 2 Sm 5:1-3; Col 1:12-20; Lk 23:35-43.

Each year, on the final Sunday of the liturgical calendar, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. This feast stands as both a culmination and a beginning: it closes one year of the Church’s pilgrimage and opens our hearts toward the Advent of the eternal Kingdom. It invites us to look beyond the passing empires of the world and to anchor our faith in the sovereignty of Christ—a kingship unlike any other known to human history.

The idea of kingship often conjures images of power, majesty, and command. Our world associates kings with wealth, political authority, and armies. Yet in the Gospel, Jesus turns this understanding upside down. When Pilate questions Him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”, Jesus responds not with pride but with profound surrender: “My kingdom is not of this world.” His throne is the Cross, His crown is made of thorns, and His royal robe is stained with His own blood. This inversion reveals the mystery of divine kingship—one built not on domination but on love, not on conquest but on service, not on fear but on mercy.

The Kingship of the Cross

On the Cross, Jesus reigns. From that place of humiliation and suffering, He exercises supreme authority by forgiving those who crucify Him, by embracing the repentant thief, and by entrusting His spirit to the Father. Unlike earthly rulers who secure power through violence, Jesus reigns through love that gives itself completely. His foes mock Him with the sign, “This is the King of the Jews,” intending it as a statement of irony. Yet in God’s providence, it declares the deepest truth of salvation: the King has come to save not by destroying His enemies but by dying for them.

In Luke’s account, we see two thieves crucified beside Him. One joins the mockery, rejecting this so-called king who cannot even save Himself. The other thief, in a moment of grace, perceives something astonishing. Beneath the wounds, beyond the agony, he recognizes the presence of true royalty. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” With that simple act of faith, he receives the King’s promise: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” Here the Kingdom of God reveals its nature—it is not a realm of privilege but of mercy; it welcomes all who, like the good thief, trust in the compassion of Christ.

A Different Kind of Power

Christ’s kingship forces us to reexamine our understanding of power and authority. In a world still dominated by ambition and self-interest, the Cross proclaims a sovereignty rooted in self-giving love. True authority, in God’s plan, is not the capacity to enforce one’s will but the willingness to serve others for their good. This is why Jesus tells His disciples, “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant.” He does not abolish kingship; He transforms it. He redefines what it means to rule by identifying kingship with service and sacrifice.

Pope Pius XI instituted this feast in 1925, during a time when secular ideologies were rising—fascism, communism, and nationalism. The world was witnessing leaders who sought to rule through fear, propaganda, and military might. The Church responded by proclaiming Christ as the true King, emphasizing that all political systems and human agendas must ultimately stand under His judgment. Even today, amid new forms of authoritarianism, consumerism, and moral confusion, we need this reminder. Christ is King not because we allow Him to be, but because in Him, all creation finds its order and final destiny.

Christ’s Reign Among Us

Yet the Kingship of Christ is not only a future promise; it is present even now, wherever hearts open to His reign. When we forgive, when we choose peace over revenge, when we show compassion to the poor or speak truth amid injustice, Christ’s Kingdom becomes visible in our midst. Every act of mercy expands His dominion. Every act of love proclaims His victory over hatred. As St. Paul writes in his letter to the Colossians, through Christ, the Father “has transferred us from the power of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son.” The Kingdom is already here, though not yet complete; it grows quietly in the hearts of the faithful until the day of Christ’s return, when God will be “all in all.”

Living Under the Reign of Christ

To declare “Christ is King” is not merely to recite a creed; it is a call to conversion. It asks whether He truly reigns in our hearts. Does His word guide our choices? Does His mercy shape our relationships? Does His peace govern our anxieties? The Kingdom of Christ begins wherever we surrender self-centeredness and allow His Spirit to lead us. That surrender is often painful—our pride resists it—but it is also liberating. Under the gentle rule of Christ, burdens become lighter, and even in suffering, we discover peace that the world cannot give.

In practical terms, living under Christ’s reign means embracing His vision of justice and peace. It means defending the dignity of every human life, seeking reconciliation instead of division, and serving those on the margins of society—the hungry, the lonely, the forgotten. In them, Christ the King is hidden and waiting to be served. “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” The final judgment, as Matthew’s Gospel reminds us, will not measure our achievements but our love—whether we have recognized the royal presence of Christ in others.

As we kneel before the altar today, we stand before our King. Not a distant monarch, but a Shepherd who knows His sheep; not a ruler enthroned in gold, but a Savior whose throne is the Cross. His crown is mercy, His law is love, His banner is forgiveness. To proclaim “Christ the King” is to pledge loyalty to this kingdom of love—to resist hatred, greed, and despair, and to live as citizens of heaven even while walking the earth.

May this feast renew in us the courage to let Christ truly reign—in our homes, our communities, and our hearts.