Today's Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112325.cfm

In today’s homily, Fr. Anthony reminds us of a truth Americans rarely ponder: we have never lived under a king — yet our entire faith rests on the Kingship of Jesus Christ. Unlike earthly monarchs who seek power, privilege, and protection, Jesus rules from a place no human king would ever choose: the Cross. His throne is wood, His crown is thorns, His royal robes are His own Precious Blood. This is the radical reversal of the Gospel — a King who saves not by “saving Himself,” but by pouring Himself out in total self-gift. As Scripture says, “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mk 10:45).

The mockery of the rulers, the soldiers, and the thief — “Save yourself!” — echoes the temptation we all face: self-preservation over self-surrender. Yet Jesus reveals the true meaning of kingship: mercy. On Calvary, He establishes a kingdom not of domination but of redemption. He conquers sin, death, and Satan by embracing the Cross, proving that divine authority is expressed through sacrificial love. The Diary of St. Faustina echoes this mystery when Jesus says, “The flames of mercy are burning Me. I desire to pour them out upon human souls” (Diary, 1074). Christ thirsts for souls, not for earthly glory.

Fr. Anthony urges each of us to enthrone Jesus as King in our hearts. The real battle is not with political enemies or cultural currents, but within — between virtue and vice, grace and temptation. To invite Christ the King is to ask Him to conquer our interior enemies quickly and decisively. And where the King reigns, He places His Queen — the Blessed Virgin Mary — beside Him. Through truth, humility, and repentance, the kingdom of God takes root within us, leading us to the final victory: rising with Christ after our death, just like the good thief who prayed, “Jesus, remember me.”