Christ the King, the one who is hanging on a cross? 

Luke 23:33-43. November 23th 2025

Rev. Neli Miranda            

            Brothers and sisters, today we find ourselves at a significant crossroads in our journey of faith. This is the final Sunday after Pentecost, the culmination of the long liturgical season we call “ordinary time” or “after Pentecost”. Guided by the Gospel of Luke, for five months, we have been walking with Jesus |on his determined journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, a journey filled with his most profound teachings, parables, and encounters. We have listened, we have learned, and we have walked alongside him. Today, that journey reaches its destination. We arrive in Jerusalem, not to witness a triumphant coronation, but to stand at the foot of a cross. We close this season as witnesses to Jesus, hanging between two criminals, at the place called The Skull.

            Many churches, including those in our own Anglican tradition, celebrate the Feast of Christ the King on this very Sunday. This presents us with a stark and challenging paradox. How do we proclaim “Christ the King” when the image our Gospel gives us today is one of suffering, humiliation, and death as a common criminal? What kind of kingship is this?

            The celebration of Christ the King is a relatively modern observance that originated within the Catholic Roman tradition, having been instituted in 1925 by Pope Pius XI.  In his encyclical Quas Primas, he established the feast as a response to the rising tides of secularism and nationalism that he saw as threats to faith and humanity. The core message was a vital reminder: while governments, ideologies, and empires may rise and fall, Christ reigns as King forever.

            Some critics note that the feast emerged during a time when the Catholic Church was grappling with a decline in political influence. Its institution coincided with the Vatican’s 1929 treaty with Mussolini’s government, which recognized Vatican City as an independent state. Furthermore, the Church received financial compensation for the loss of the Papal States in 1870.

            The celebration of Christ the King often depicts a majestic, imperial white Christ—robed in gold, seated on a magnificent throne, holding a scepter. Yet, we must recognize that this image is not found in the Gospels. This image emerged centuries after his death, after Christianity gained imperial favor under Constantine. The same Roman power that had crucified Jesus sought to remake him in its own image: a divine emperor. This is the image of a king that appeals to those who seek to dominate, to accumulate wealth, and to wield power in Christ’s name.

            Today, let us turn our eyes back to the cross and witness how the earthly powers mocked Jesus. In a gesture of disdain, Pilate ordered the inscription above him: “This is the king of the Jews.” Prior to that, Herod and his soldiers had treated Jesus with contempt, placing an elegant robe on him and crafting a crown of thorns. They hailed him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Jesus’ image on the cross speaks powerfully. We see here the agents of the Roman Empire abusing and exercising violence against a weak and defenseless man. They attempted to strip Jesus of his dignity, yet his dignity was rooted in his commitment as the One sent by God.

            The Roman Empire, in collusion with Jewish authorities, murdered Jesus because his proclamation posed a threat to the oppressive system they upheld. In stark contrast to this system, Jesus proclaimed a kingdom of justice and peace. Amid poverty, misery, and exclusion, Jesus declared abundant life for all. Moreover, contrasting with the kingdom of Caesar, Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God. He was executed by the world system that lifts up and proclaims kings to control and dominate people, and thus, he never called himself a king. Instead, he embodied service within the community, giving his life as a ransom for many.

            So, what do we celebrate today? Do we celebrate an imperial king on a golden throne? No! We celebrate something far more radical, far more powerful. We celebrate Jesus! We celebrate his life and his unwavering commitment to God and to all humanity We celebrate his Kingdom of justice, equity, and peace, proclaimed in a world drowning in oppression and violence. We celebrate his preferential love for the poor, the sick, the outcast, and all who are marginalized. We celebrate his victory over the temptations of money, fame, and worldly power—the very things our world worships. He never bowed to the corrupt human kingdoms. We rejoice in the fact that God raised the crucified from the dead, vindicating his life of service and sacrificial love, proving that love is stronger than death and that God’s Kingdom will outlast every empire.

            The world today does not need a king but the reality of Jesus, the Crucified One, the One who brings good news to a suffering world. Therefore, let us reclaim this day. Let us celebrate Christ not as an earthly king, but as the Son of God, the lamb of God who offers his life for the world.

            As disciples of Jesus, our commission today is to bear witness to the kingdom he proclaims, no to build empires and to bow to the systems that elevate kings. We are called to stand in solidarity with the dispossessed, to serve rather than be served, and to love our neighbors as Jesus first loved us. May we, as followers of the Crucified Christ, recommit ourselves to his kingdom of justice, mercy, and peace. Let us carry his promise of Paradise in our hearts as we strive to embody his kingdom of love in our time. Amen.