Today’s Reflection
Gospel: Luke 20: 27-40
November 23, 2025 | Sunday

Today’s Gospel

The people stood by, watching. As for the rulers, they jeered at him, saying to one another, “Let the man who saved others now save himself, for he is the Messiah, the chosen one of God!”

The soldiers also mocked him and, when they drew near to offer him bitter wine, they said, “So you are the King of the Jews? Save yourself!” Above Jesus there was an inscription in Greek, Latin and Hebrew, which read, “This is the King of the Jews.”

One of the criminals hanging with Jesus insulted him, “So you are the Messiah? Save yourself, and us as well!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Have you no fear of God, you who received the same sentence as he did? For us it is just: this is payment for what we have done. But this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “In truth I tell you, today, you will be with me today in paradise.”

Today’s Reflection

Jesus proclaimed  Himself  as  the  King. In fact, those who killed Him placed this inscription above Him when He was crucified. This only showed how limited their understanding of His kingship was. The Jews believed that as a king, He would liberate them from Roman oppression through armed revolt. But Jesus’ kingship was only understood in worldly terms by most of His contemporaries. His kingship was spiritually motivated. He led His followers into an eternal kingdom with an assurance of joy and peace at the heart of those who believe in Him. In short, His kingdom is a paradise. This paradise is reminiscent of the Garden of Eden, entrusted to Adam and Eve to work and take care of (Gen. 2:15). However, they were sent out after committing the sin of disobedience (Gen. 3:23). Now, paradise is restored when people of all walks of life keep Jesus’ words and remain faithful to Him until the end (Rev.  22:1-2). We  might  ask,  what is this paradise? The preface of Christ the King describes this place as “an eternal and universal kingdom, a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, love, and peace.”

/Vulnerasti, 2025