A KING WHO REIGNS FROM THE CROSS

Homily for the Solemnity of Christ the King, Year C

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Bible Readings: 2 Samuel 5:1-3; Colossians 1:12-20; Luke 23:35-43

On this final Sunday of the liturgical year, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Christ the King. Today’s celebration presents us with a striking paradox: the Kingship of Christ revealed not on a throne, but on a cross. Unlike earthly kings who ascend to power through force, Jesus ascends by self-giving love. Unlike monarchs who rule from palaces, Jesus rules from a place of vulnerability. His crown is one of thorns; His royal decree is mercy; His throne is the wood that bore the weight of our salvation.

The Gospel (Luke 23:35-43) gives us the clearest window into this mystery. Here, Jesus is mocked by rulers, soldiers, and even one of the criminals crucified beside Him. The taunts all sound alike: “Save yourself!” It is the world’s logic - power must dominate, strength must display itself, kings must preserve themselves at all costs. But Jesus reveals a new logic: the King saves others not by coming down from the cross but by staying on it. He shows that true kingship is service, sacrifice, and radical fidelity to the Father’s will.

At the foot of the cross, humanity divides into two responses. The first thief embodies a heart blinded by disappointment: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” He wants a king who fits his expectations, a savior who fixes problems without confronting the deeper wounds of sin and brokenness. Many of us stand in this place at times - wanting a God who performs, not a God who transforms.

But the second thief, traditionally called the “Good Thief” or Dismas, becomes the first citizen of Christ’s kingdom. He recognizes three truths: his sin (“We are receiving what we deserve”), Jesus’ innocence (“This man has done nothing wrong”), and Jesus’ kingship (“Remember me when you come into your kingdom”). In that humble request, he acknowledges a truth no one else on Calvary sees: the crucified one truly is King.

And Jesus, with royal authority, issues the most stunning decree of His kingship: “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.” His first act as King is not judgment, but mercy; not condemnation, but welcome. His kingdom opens not through military conquest but through a pierced heart.

The second reading (Colossians 1:12-20) deepens this revelation. Paul proclaims Christ as the “image of the invisible God” and “firstborn of all creation.” Everything that exists - visible and invisible - came into being through Him. And yet, this cosmic Christ chooses to reconcile the universe “through the blood of His cross.” The Creator becomes Redeemer; the Eternal Word becomes the suffering servant. The One who holds all things together allows Himself to be held by nails for our sake. This is the paradox at the heart of the Christian faith: the highest majesty revealed through the deepest humility.

For us, celebrating Christ the King is not merely an act of reverence but an invitation to allegiance. As those in authority or under authority, which king do we follow - the world’s king of power, success, and self-preservation, or the crucified King whose rule is love? To accept Christ as King is to allow His mercy to shape our decisions, His truth to direct our paths, and His self-giving love to define our relationships.

Today, we stand like the two thieves beside Jesus. Each of us must choose our response. Will we demand a king who fits our expectations or bow before the King who exceeds them? May our prayer be like that of Dismas: “Jesus, remember me.” And may the King who reigns from the cross bring us into His kingdom, today, and always.