Father Rick’s Gospel Reflection for Christ the King, Solemnity   

November 23, 2025, Luke 23:35-43

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112325.cfm

 What Do You See?

The first thing that jumps into my mind when I hear the word “king”  is a life of luxury, with servants waiting on your every need. I think of the pageantry and parades, the best seats at dinners with dignitaries.

How astonishing it is to find our King, Jesus, not in a palace or on a throne, but hanging on a cross between two thieves. As St. Luke recounts, “The people stood by and watched.” What did they see? The soldiers and rulers, even one of the thieves, saw a fool and derided Jesus. The other criminal saw his Savior and pleaded to be remembered in His Kingdom.

People like us, who heard St. Luke’s Gospel before he wrote it, understood the word “watch” to mean “contemplation.” This means to deeply consider or reflect on something. I begin my adoration each morning by looking at the cross. What do I see? I see a woman lying on her bed yesterday, waiting for Jesus to call her home, while family members began grieving.

I see a sinner, burdened by the weight of his sins for many years, realizing he has strayed from God in countless selfish acts. I see someone battling their drug addiction, losing the fight once more, but not losing hope.

I see people standing at a crossroads, faced with the decision to follow Jesus as a disciple or to continue living a life solely focused on human desires.

I see people feeling depressed and angry, and others involved in car accidents ending up in the emergency room. I see a mother and father grieving over their lost son, someone innocently murdered. I see martyrs dying for their faith. The list goes on forever.

In all these tragic moments in people’s lives, I see Jesus hanging on His Cross, a king with a crown of thorns, agonizing over every human being in history. No pageantry or parade—just a splintered cross, He carried up the hill of Calvary. He had no elegant robes; they were stripped.

Gospel Challenge:

It is so easy to be one of the crowd mocking Jesus on His cross when we encounter Him in the sufferings of others. Jesus gets past who deserves whatever and bears their pain for bad behavior. Join the good thief and remember Jesus when He brings suffering humanity into His Kingdom. Jesus came to serve us, to bear our burdens and offer us salvation; however, we need Him this moment, in our own suffering and in the suffering of others.

Truly, Jesus reigns as King, whatever a person needs, however much it may cost Him.

Love Your Neighbor!

Fr. Rick Pilger, I.C. 
www.bscchurch.com