Jesus, remember me…
November, 23 2025 Solemnity of Christ the King!
Dear brothers and sisters, the passage from the Gospel of Luke that we’re going to listen to on Sunday, November 23, Solemnity of Christ the King, enlightens us on two aspects of his royalty: His "style" of reigning and the "way" with which he exercises his just, even if unfathomable judgment.
First of all, concerning the "style", Jesus, the Son of God, is crowned with thorns and his throne is a Cross! He is a Crucified King who, throughout his life, but especially on the Cross, manifests the beauty and unheard purity of God’s love for humanity. A divine love, which is the greatest force of transformation in the universe and which will provoke the greatest mutation, the last leap forward in the history of life in the universe: that is, the Resurrection. (Compare: Benedict XVI, Homily of the Holy Mass on Easter Eve 2006)
As for "the judgment", Luke tells us that on Golgotha, together with Jesus, two other condemned men had been crucified, of whom one insulting him, was trying to impose his idea of "salvation" on Jesus. He represents those who would like a God in "their way" who will never exist and never will be able to save them. The other one, the good thief, "defends Jesus and, humbly welcoming in the faith, the mystery of the annihilation of the Crucified Messiah, prays him: Lord, remember me when you are in your kingdom! Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus came to save everybody, but unfortunately, not everyone accepts to live and be saved in God's way", according to his style!