Solemnity of Christ the King Year C (2022)

Mass Readings for the Solemnity of Christ the King 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.”

Themes for the Solemnity of Christ the King Year C

The readings for the Solemnity of Christ the King Year C focus on the kingship of Jesus Christ, who is not a king like the rulers of this world. In the first reading David is anointed the king of Israel. In the second reading Paul tells us that we are going to share in the inheritance of Jesus Christ. In the gospel, from the cross, Jesus tells the good thief that he will join him in paradise.

• The kingship of Jesus Christ
• The Kingdom of God
• Eternity

See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for the Solemnity of Christ the King Year C.

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 can also be prayed as a novena. Start it two Saturdays before this solemnity to end on the Feast of Christ the King.

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.

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.

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.

King of All, Warrior of Mercy

From Bishop Robert Barron of Word on Fire. “Friends, we come to the great feast of Christ the King, which is always the last Sunday of the liturgical year. Think of the king coming at the end of a long procession into his palace; this is Christ the King at the end of the great procession of the liturgical year. What I want to do is look at three dimensions of Christ’s kingship, one from each of the three readings today: our unity in Christ, Christ the warrior, and the weapons by which Christ wins the battle with the powers of darkness: his nonviolence and forgiving love.”

Universal Salvation

From Fr. Richard Rohr of the Center for Action and Contemplation. “Full salvation is finally universal belonging and universal connecting. Our Christian word for that is ‘heaven.’ This is why Jesus can say to a man dying in time, ‘This day you are with me in paradise’ (Luke 23:43). The Christ is now, here, everywhere, and always.” Continue reading.

King of Our Hearts

Jeff Cavins explains how the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, is the culmination of the liturgical year.  He asks if we are ready to make Jesus king in our hearts.

Christ the Crucified King

From Bishop Robert Barron. “Our first reading for Mass this Sunday is taken from the opening chapter of Paul’s letter to the Colossians. There is no stronger statement of the absolute primacy, centrality, and importance of Jesus Christ in the entire New Testament. Jesus, Paul tells us, is the beginning and the end, the icon of the invisible God, the one in whom all things exist and for whom they are destined. And then the Gospel shows us this cosmic King nailed to the cross. This wonderful irony is at the heart of the Christian proclamation: the King of the Universe is a crucified criminal, who utterly spends himself in love.”

King and Savior of All

From Loyola Press. “Luke’s Gospel has been loaded with surprises: the poor are rich, sinners find salvation, the Kingdom of God is found in our midst. Here we see the greatest surprise of all. We are confronted with the crucified Jesus.” Continue reading.

Kingdom of the Son

From Scott Hahn. “Week by week the Liturgy has been preparing us for the revelation to be made on this, the last Sunday of the Church year. Jesus, we have been shown, is truly the Chosen One, the Messiah of God, the King of the Jews. Ironically, in today’s Gospel we hear these names on the lips of those who don’t believe in Him.” Continue reading.