34th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C &
The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe
– Nov. 23, 2025
2 Samuel 5:1-3; Colossians 1:12-20;
Luke 23:35-43
Theme:
“Jesus, Remember Me When You Come Into Your Kingdom”
A.
A Brief Exegetical Analysis of Luke 23:35-43
1.
Historical and Literary Contexts
This Gospel
passage is found toward the end of the Passion Narrative (chap. 22-23). In
recounting Jesus's Crucifixion, Luke aims to demonstrate to his readers how
Jesus, the King of the Universe, differs from the kings of this world and that
believers' destiny is with him. The story of Jesus’s way of the cross
(23:26-32) comes before our text, while the accounts of Jesus’s death
(23:44-49) and burial (23:50-56) follow it, marking the conclusion of the
Passion Narrative.
2.
Form, Structure, and Movement
Besides vv.
33-34, which the lectionary omitted from our reading, this story can be divided
into two parts, illustrating the two opposite attitudes of the people in the
scene: the mockery from a group of people (vv. 35-39) and the recognition of
Jesus’s kingship from the repentant thief (vv. 40-43).
3.
Detailed Analysis
In this scene
of Jesus’ crucifixion, Luke shows that Jesus is the King over all earthly
rulers by comparing two groups of people. The rulers, soldiers, and the first
criminal, on one side, represent those who do not believe in Jesus’ kingship,
while the second criminal, on the other side, symbolizes those who do
believe.
Vv. 35-39. The
rulers “sneer” at Jesus and question his divine mission as Savior. The soldiers
“jeer” at him and doubt his divine kingship. The first criminal “mocks” him and
doubts his divine identity as Messiah. These rulers, soldiers, and the first criminal
represent all people who do not recognize Jesus as Savior, King, and Messiah.
Consequently, they are not deserving of eternal life in God’s kingdom, where
Jesus Christ is the King.
Vv. 40-43. The
repentant criminal represents the second group of people who recognize Jesus'
kingship and deserve the eternal life he offers. This second criminal rebukes
his fellow criminal, urging them to fear God instead, because, unlike Jesus,
the innocent, they are justly condemned for their crimes. Then, he makes a
solemn prayer to Jesus: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Through this prayer, this second criminal, unlike the rulers, soldiers, and the
first criminal, acknowledges Jesus as Savior, Messiah, and King. Unlike the
first criminal, he does not ask Jesus to save him in this life but instead to
grant him eternal life when Jesus comes into his kingdom at the end of the age.
Here, this second criminal believes in three things: Jesus’ kingship, Jesus’
second coming, and the resurrection of the dead for the eternal salvation of
the righteous and the eternal punishment of the wicked. Jesus sees in this
criminal a person worthy of eternal life. That is why He grants him his final
wish: “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
In this scene
of Jesus’ crucifixion, Luke contrasts two groups of people to show that Jesus
is the King over all earthly rulers. The rulers, soldiers, and the first
criminal represent those who do not believe in Jesus’s kingship. In the Gospel,
they mock Jesus and question his divine identity as Savior, King, and Messiah.
The second criminal represents those who believe in Jesus’ kingship. In the
Gospel, he trusts in the forgiveness of sins and eternal salvation that Jesus
offers to the righteous at the resurrection when he (Jesus) returns as the King
of the Universe at the end of the age. Because of his sincere repentance and
faith in Jesus, Jesus promises him, and all those who repent and believe in his
kingship, eternal life in God’s kingdom, where he (Jesus) is the King.
B.
Pastoral Implications
1.
Liturgical Context
Congratulations
to all of us for completing this Liturgical Calendar Year C. It has been a
meaningful journey this year exploring the teachings of Jesus from the Lukan
perspective. Today, we mark the end of this liturgical journey with the
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Our Holy Mother
Church presents the Scripture readings related to Jesus' Passion, not to
remember our Lord’s Passion, but to reflect on his kingship, which these Bible
readings clearly reveal. As all the tribes of Israel acknowledged David as
their king in our first reading, the repentant thief recognized Jesus’s
kingship in our Gospel. Indeed, Jesus is the King of the Universe because he is
the image of the invisible God and the firstborn over all creation, as Saint
Paul tells us in our second reading. Therefore, let us accept Jesus as the king
of our lives and, consequently, live accordingly to the rules of his
kingdom.
2.
What the Church Teaches Us Today
Our first
reading should be understood in the context of when David was ruling over some
of the tribes of Israel during King Saul's reign. The section we heard in our
first reading is when King Saul died, and all the tribes acknowledged David's
kingship and asked him to be their king as well. Pay attention to the words of
recognition they used: “Here we are, your bone and your flesh” (2 Sam 5:1).
Like the people of Israel, the Church calls us to believe that the Crucified
Jesus is the “bone of our bones and flesh of our flesh,” therefore, he is the
King of the Universe.
In our Gospel,
Luke shows that our Lord Jesus is the King of the Universe by contrasting two
groups of people. On one side, the rulers, soldiers, and the first criminal
represent all those today who do not believe in Jesus’ kingship, and therefore
are not deserving of eternal salvation in God’s kingdom. On the other side, the
second criminal symbolizes all those who believe in Jesus' kingship and, as a
result, will inherit eternal life in God’s kingdom, where Jesus reigns as King.
Unlike the
rulers, soldiers, and the first criminal who ridicule Jesus and question his
divine identity as Savior, Messiah, and King (vv. 35-39), the second criminal
believes in Jesus’ kingship. He shows this when he rebukes his fellow criminal
in vv. 40-41, telling him to fear God and admit that Jesus is innocent, while
they are sinners, and their punishment matches their crimes. The repentant
thief believes that Jesus, the innocent one, does not try to change his destiny,
even though he has the power to do so. He sees in Jesus' crucifixion a sign
that Jesus willingly sympathizes with sinners and saves those who repent. That
is why he prays to Jesus: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
(v. 42). The Church calls us to admit our sins, regret them, and confess to
receive God’s forgiveness. Additionally, when we face our own suffering, we
should believe that the crucified Jesus sympathizes with us.
Note that in
his prayer, the repentant thief does not ask Jesus to save him in this life,
just as his fellow criminal did. Instead, he prays for his eternal salvation in
God’s kingdom, where Jesus sits as a King. Here, the Church teaches us about
the new life we receive after confessing our sins, which alludes to the eternal
salvation we will enjoy in heaven at the end of our earthly journey. Also,
through his prayer, the repentant thief believes in three things, which our
Holy Mother Church teaches us today: (1) Jesus will return as King one day; (2)
the final judgment is imminent; (3) the resurrection of the dead, where the
righteous are granted eternal salvation and the wicked everlasting
condemnation, is a reality. Therefore, let us live our lives accordingly. When
we do, Jesus promises us eternal salvation, as he did with the repentant
criminal, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Thus,
what we need to do is thank him every day, as Saint Paul recommends in our
second reading, because he made us fit to share in the inheritance of the holy
ones in light (Col 1:12).
May the liturgy
of this Mass help us accept Jesus as the King of our lives, and may we follow
the rules of his kingship. Amen.
Rev.
Leon Ngandu, SVD
Pastor
of Holy Family Parish in Jackson, MS &
SVD
USS Biblical Apostolate Coordinator
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