Christ the King Sunday – Year C
November 23, 2025
Gospel Lectionary Text
Luke 23:33-43
23:33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.
23:34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing.
23:35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!"
23:36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine,
23:37 and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!"
23:38 There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
23:39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!"
23:40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?
23:41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong."
23:42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
23:43 He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
Context
Coming soon.
Question
Coming soon.
Reflections
Praying Eucharistically - Weekly Homily by James Alison:
Understanding the Bible anew through the Mimetic Theory of René Girard.
Poetry
This week, we invite you to read and reflect on the Riddle of Strider, from J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
In Tolkien’s famous fantasy trilogy, this poem (more a riddle, really) first appears in a letter the wizard Gandalf leaves for Frodo Baggins in the village of Bree. The famous lines, “All that is gold does not glitter, / Not all who wander are lost,” are meant as a reminder to Frodo that he should not judge the vagrant ranger Strider by his rough appearance. When Frodo’s friends want nothing to do with the menacing Strider, Frodo remembers the riddle and insists that Strider is their ally.
Only later does the rest of the riddle reveal its significance, as Frodo’s uncle Bilbo recites the poem again at the Council of Elrond in response to the prince Boromir’s doubts about Strider. It turns out that Strider, willingly living in squalor and among criminals, is none other than Aragorn, Heir of Isildur and true king of Middle Earth, whose time has come to redeem the disgraced.
The Riddle Of Strider
by JRR Tolkien
All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.
Prayer
This week, the call to prayer comes from the Street Psalms Centering Prayer:
Come, Holy Spirit, wild and free. Do as you please. Shine your light on me that I might see things as they are, not as I am. Free me to act in your name with courage, creativity, and compassion.
