Welcome to the final week of the Church’s liturgical year! This Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. It’s a time to look back on the year we’ve had and look forward to the future.
The word of the week this week is Kingdom.
When we think of a “Kingdom,” we often think of castles, power, armies, and rulers sitting on high thrones. But the Kingdom of God is different. It’s not about power over people; it’s about power for people. It’s a Kingdom built on love, justice, and peace. This week, we are invited to ask ourselves: “Who is my King?” and “What kind of Kingdom am I helping to build?”
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Day 1 – The Servant King
We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross.
Response: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke
R./ Glory to You O Lord
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
R./ Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ
It seems strange to celebrate a King who reigns from a cross rather than a throne. In this Gospel, Jesus is mocked for being powerless. The world says a King should save himself, but Jesus is a King who gives himself away to save others. He shows us that true authority doesn’t come from force, but from sacrificial love. His Kingdom is open to everyone—even a criminal on a cross—who simply asks to be remembered.
Discussion Questions:
- In the world today, what qualities do we usually look for in a “powerful” leader?
- How is Jesus’ style of leadership different from the leaders we see in the news or on social media?
- What does it mean to “reign” by serving others?
Click below to “Add Comment” and capture some of what has been said in your form for others to see or add them to your form scrapbook if you have one!
Lord Jesus, King of the Universe, you showed us that true power is found in service and true strength in love. Help us to follow your example, not by seeking to be great in the eyes of the world, but by being great in our care for one another. Amen.
Day 2 – A Kingdom of Honour
We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross.
Response: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
We often think that to be important, we need to be at the top—celebrated, famous, or “followed” by thousands. But in the Kingdom of God, the values are flipped upside down. The last shall be first, and the humble shall be exalted.
In the film The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, after the great battle is won, the newly crowned King Aragorn is reunited with the Hobbits—the smallest and seemingly least significant characters. Watch what happens when they try to bow to him.
Aragorn, the King, honours the smallest people because he knows that without their courage and service, the victory wouldn’t have been possible. This echoes Catholic Social Teaching on Human Dignity and Solidarity. Every person, no matter how small or “unimportant” society thinks they are, has immense value in God’s Kingdom.
We build God’s Kingdom not in the way that the world expects but through service and humility. Why is it so powerful to see a King bow to the Hobbits? Who are those in our society who are often overlooked but do the most important work? How then can we honour them this week?
Put your ideas in your scrapbook and share them in the comments.
God of Justice, teach us to see the world through your eyes. Help us to honour the dignity of every person we meet, especially those who are poor, vulnerable, or forgotten. May we build a community where everyone is valued and no one is left behind. Amen.
Day 3 – Keys to the Kingdom
We invite you to start with the Sign of the Cross.
Response: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen
We are all citizens of God’s Kingdom, which means we all have a part to play in building it right here in our school. We don’t need a crown to do this; we just need the right “keys.”
In your forms, we’d like you to think about what values “unlock” the Kingdom of God in your classroom. Is it Kindness? Patience? Forgiveness? Humour?
Using a simple piece of paper, cut out a large “Key” shape for your form board or scrap book.
On the key, write down one specific value or action your form commits to this week to make your form room feel more like God’s Kingdom.
Examples: “We will listen when others speak,” “We will not leave anyone out,” or “We will say thank you.”
These keys will remind us that we hold the power to open the doors of friendship and peace to everyone who enters.
Father, you have given us the keys to your Kingdom through the message of your Son. Empower us to use them wisely. May our form be a place of welcome, where kindness unlocks hearts and where your love is the law that rules our lives. Amen.
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