Posted on November 20, 2025 View all Gospel Reflection
“¡Viva Cristo Rey!”
These words proclaimed by Blessed Miguel Pro on November 23, 1927 in Mexico during the Cristero War. This conflict arose in Mexico as a confrontation between the Mexican government which sought to enforce anti-Catholic and atheistic principles and those in the Catholic Church which sought to preserve the freedom of religious practice.
His death which happens to fall on the Solemnity of Christ the King this year is a testimony of how we may be suddenly called to witness to our faith in the face of persecution. Blessed Miguel was accused falsely of an assassination attempt and sentenced to execution without a trial. When facing his executioners, standing with a crucifix in one hand and a rosary in the other, he said “May God have mercy on you! May God bless you! Lord, Thou knowest that I am innocent! With all my heart I forgive my enemies!”
These words of Blessed Miguel Pro echo the very words of Jesus Christ on the Cross which he uttered in the sentence just before the passage we heard in today’s Gospel. “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:33)
When we reflect on today’s celebration of Christ the King our attention is drawn to a number of aspects that differ from what people normally think of when they think of a king. In Jesus’ time, the scribes and Pharisees were looking for an earthly king who would restore the throne of David and supposedly put them back in places of power. They were looking for someone to kick out the occupying Roman officials. It was also from time to time a similar view that the Apostles thought was going to happen as well. Even at the beginning of Holy Week on Palm Sunday we see Jesus make a triumphant entry to Jerusalem with the people proclaiming “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Luke 19:38)
But we know that Jesus did not come into the world to be an earthly king. He said this himself when he responded to Pilate saying “My kingdom does not belong to this world.” (John 18:36) While we do see references to the kingship of Christ the Messiah throughout our readings, what is especially striking in today’s readings is the contrast between the first reading and the Gospel. In 2 Samuel we see how David is anointed king of Israel and in the Responsorial Psalm we hear “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” Yet in the Gospel we hear about Jesus’ death on the cross. As he was dying on the cross, we see how the rulers sneered at Jesus and others called out to him to save himself. It was quite telling when Pilate wrote “This is the King of the Jews.” The chief priests of the Jews complained and said “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’” The INRI that we see on the crucifix is the declaration that Jesus is in fact our king. Through his death on the cross, Jesus conquered sin and death and opened the gates of heaven.
As we celebrate the solemnity of Christ the King, we should do so not because we will gain earthly honors or praises. In fact, we may be persecuted for our faith. But what we do know is if we humble ourselves before our Lord and King and plead “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42) We can only hope that Jesus’ response to us will be “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
