The Solemnity of Christ the King (Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe) recognizes that Jesus Christ is King of all the universe and encourages us to reflect if He is truly Lord of our hearts.
Christ, King and Lord of the universe, made himself the servant of all, for he came "not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." For the Christian, "to reign is to serve him," particularly when serving "the poor and the suffering, in whom the Church recognizes the image of her poor and suffering founder." The People of God fulfills its royal dignity by a life in keeping with its vocation to serve with Christ.
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 786
Click on the appropriate year below to see ideas for youth ministry, religious education, classrooms, and families for the Solemnity of Christ the King.
Mass Readings for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Year A
- First Reading – Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17: “The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly.”
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.”
- Second Reading – 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28: “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”
- Gospel –Matthew 25:31-46: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him.”
Mass Readings for the Solemnity of Christ the King Year B
- First Reading – Daniel 7:13-14: As the visions during the night continued, I saw one like a Son of man coming, on the clouds of heaven; when he reached the Ancient One and was presented before him, the one like a Son of man received dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations, and languages serve him.”
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 93: “The LORD is king; he is robed in majesty.”
- Second Reading – Revelation 1:5-8: “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who has made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.”
- Gospel –John 18:33B-37: “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here.”
Mass Readings for the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe Year C
- First Reading – 2 Samuel 5:1-3: “You shall shepherd my people Israel and shall be commander of Israel.'”
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 122: “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.”
- Second Reading – Colossians 1:12-20: “He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
- Gospel – Luke 23:35-43: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Other Resources
Knight Me! Lesson Plan
This lesson plan will help youth consider how they can be more committed to serving Christ the King.
Prayer to Christ the King
This is a traditional prayer which honors Jesus Christ as the king of the universe. It can be prayed as a single prayer or as a novena. A printable version is also available.
Christ the King Word Search Puzzle
This word search puzzle features thirteen words related to the passion of Jesus Christ and his reign as king of our hearts.
Crown the King
Or maybe it should be called "Uncrown the King" because the goal is to knock off other player's crowns and keep your own. This is an active game, so it is best played outdoors, in a gym, or in a meeting room with some open space.
Kingdoms Game
The goal of this kingdoms game is to form kingdoms. The largest kingdom wins! All you need are materials to make a list so it is super easy. This could be used as a youth group game or even a middle school VBS game.
More About Lectionary Cycles
Learn more about the difference between a Bible and a Lectionary, how the Lectionary is arranged, and translations of the Bible used at Mass.
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