Christ the King Solemnity (Thirty-Fourth and Last Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 122: 1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
Second Reading: Colossians 1: 12-20
Alleluia: Mark 11: 9, 10
Gospel: Luke 23: 35-43
First Reading: Second Samuel 5: 1-3
1 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron, saying: Behold we are thy bone and thy flesh.
2 Moreover yesterday also and the day before, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that did lead out and bring in Israel: and the Lord said to thee: Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be prince over Israel.
3 The ancients also of Israel came to the king to Hebron, and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David to be king over Israel.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 122: 1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
R. (1) Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
1 I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: We shall go into the house of the Lord.
2 Our feet were standing in thy courts, O Jerusalem.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
3 Jerusalem, which is built as a city, which is compact together.
4ab For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
4cd The testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.
5 Because their seats have sat in judgment, seats upon the house of David.
R. Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.
Second Reading: Colossians 1: 12-20
12 Giving thanks to God the Father, who hath made us worthy to be partakers of the lot of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love,
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the remission of sins;
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For in him were all things created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and in him.
17 And he is before all, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he may hold the primacy:
19 Because in him, it hath well pleased the Father, that all fullness should dwell;
20 And through him to reconcile all things unto himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, both as to the things that are on earth, and the things that are in heaven.
Alleluia: Mark 11: 9, 10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
9, 10 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 23: 35-43
35 And the people stood beholding, and the rulers with them derided him, saying: He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the elect of God.
36 And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
37 And saying: If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.
38 And there was also a superscription written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
39 And one of those robbers who were hanged, blasphemed him, saying: If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering, rebuked him, saying: Neither dost thou fear God, seeing thou art condemned under the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man hath done no evil.
42 And he said to Jesus: Lord, remember me when thou shalt come into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee, this day thou shalt be with me in paradise.
Reflection
David is anointed king after the tribes recognize him as one who has led and cared for Israel. The psalm then pictures God’s people rejoicing as they gather in Jerusalem, united in worship beneath the house of David. These hopes find their fullness in Jesus Christ, the true King. Yet his throne is the cross, and his crown is revealed through suffering love. The inscription above him speaks the truth even while the rulers and soldiers mock it: Jesus is King.
His kingdom does not rest on power as the world measures it. It is the kingdom of the Son who reconciles all things through his blood, delivering us from darkness and gathering us into peace. The repentant criminal sees what others refuse to see. He admits his guilt, recognizes Jesus’ innocence, and entrusts himself to the King’s mercy. Jesus answers with a promise greater than the man could claim for himself. Faith begins there: bringing our truth before Christ and trusting his compassion. When we come to him without excuses, the crucified King does not turn us away; he opens the way into his kingdom.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, true King and Savior, you reign from the cross with a mercy the world cannot understand. Deliver me from the darkness of sin and gather my heart into your peace. Give me the humility of the repentant criminal, who confessed the truth and placed his hope in you. When I am ashamed or afraid, teach me to pray, “Lord, remember me.” Let your blood reconcile what is divided in my life, and make your Church a people who rejoice in your presence and praise your name. Keep me faithful to you until I enter your kingdom. Amen.
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