Sunday Liturgy - November 23, 2025

Texts taken from the booklet “On Your Word” November-December 2025

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (S) (C)
proper

First Reading

From the second Book of Samuel (2 Sam 5:1-3)

In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said: “Look, we are your bone and your flesh. Even before, when Saul was king over us, you led Israel out and brought it back. The Lord said to you: ‘You shall shepherd my people Israel, and you shall be commander of Israel.’” Then all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made an agreement with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.

The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the First Reading

David was appointed king to prepare a “house” for the Messiah, who would arise from his descendants. That Christ is king, therefore, can also be inferred from his history: he is the son of a king, according to the line of his human family. This sign was necessary for people, so that they might see in Christ a man appointed for this purpose. Then we know that Jesus’ royal lineage today follows other paths and takes other forms, but it is also important to trace the sources of God’s plan in sacred history. What are the Davidic characteristics of the Lord Jesus? Samuel anoints David king when no one expects it (he was a boy, a shepherd); in the eyes of men, Jesus is the carpenter’s son and does not live in a royal palace. David brings down the giant Goliath with only a sling; Jesus overcomes the power of the devil through the word and the sacrifice of the cross. David gathers the scattered tribes and makes them one kingdom; Jesus gathers all people of every age through his Holy Spirit and makes them one people, the holy Church. David’s kingdom ends, while Christ’s kingdom, because he is God, is eternal.

Second Reading

From the Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Colossians (Col 1:12-20)

Brothers and sisters, give thanks with joy to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, through whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, because in him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible: thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers. All things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is also the head of the body, the Church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him and for him to reconcile all things, making peace by the blood of his cross, whether those on earth or those in heaven. - The word of the Lord.

The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the Second Reading

Paul’s reasoning is planetary, all-encompassing, cosmic, and universal. This is not a kingdom made up of lands and palaces; rather, everything is placed under the lordship of Jesus Christ, including the angelic world. And the beautiful thing is that this unification takes place “by the blood of his cross,” that is, through a sign that speaks of suffering, shameful death, and supreme humiliation. Jesus has always been king, in the Most Holy Trinity, but only through his death and resurrection does he restore all things, because he pays for everyone’s sin. He therefore “recapitulates” everything in himself and presents to the Father the kingdom united in his name and in faith in him. Let us therefore seek to realize our kingship by sharing in Christ’s sufferings: in him we too recapitulate and gather up our world and present it to God as Christ’s conquest. Saint Paul’s breathtaking vision is therefore lived every day, in the simplicity of our ordinary life: we must feel within us that this victory has been achieved and that everything within us is saved in him, if we ourselves are in Christ, through Christ, and with Christ.

Gospel

From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 23:35-43)

At that time, [after they had crucified Jesus,] the people stood by watching; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at Jesus and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the chosen one.” Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him vinegar, they said, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.” Above him there was also an inscription: “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied to him, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” - The word of the Lord.

The word of the Lord.

Commentary on the Gospel

Everyone asks Jesus to save himself, but the rulers, the soldiers, and one of the two condemned men say it mockingly, now that the Lord is tortured and unable to move, hanging horribly on a cross. If Jesus had come down from the cross, he would have manifested his power, but not his love. It is love that saves, not the spectacular display of a man freeing himself from the cross. And love is welcome, suffering, compassion, obedience, and the pure gift of self. At the supreme moment of love, God reveals himself as the one who forgives and pays for everyone. The good thief realizes this; he admits his own guilt (“we are here justly”) and declares the complete innocence of the Lamb of God. For this act of faith, he is immediately admitted to definitive love, to true salvation, and transforms his death as a criminal into the death of a repentant sinner. This is the only time in the Gospel that a person addresses the Lord by his name alone: Jesus, which means God saves, and therefore that name is enough. Turning to Christ by invoking his name, declaring one’s own guilt, and recognizing the innocence of the one who pays for everyone is the way to go directly to Heaven.