At the Crossroads of Calvary

Sunday 23 November 2025

Thirty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Christ the King (Year C)

Theme: “Jesus, Remember Me” (Luke 23: 33 – 43)

Beloved in Christ,

We have just heard one of the most profound passages in the Gospel: Jesus, crucified between two criminals, mocked by leaders and soldiers, yet offering forgiveness and promising paradise to the repentant thief. This is the Gospel of mercy, hope, and transformation.

The Cross in African Context

In many African villages, crossroads are places of decision. Paths meet, and one must choose the way forward. The hill of Calvary was such a crossroads: two criminals faced the same suffering, but each chose differently. One chose mockery, the other chose faith.

This reminds us of the saying: “Two men looked out through prison bars; one saw mud, the other saw stars.” The same situation, but two different visions. One thief saw despair, the other saw salvation.

Forgiveness in the Face of Violence

Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” In African history, we have seen communities torn apart by tribal conflict, civil wars, pogroms, and injustice. Yet we have also seen forgiveness bring healing. Think of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, where victims and perpetrators sat together, confessing and forgiving. Like Jesus, forgiveness opened the door to new life.

In our families and communities, grudges can be heavy burdens. Jesus shows us that forgiveness is not weakness but strength. It is the seed that grows into peace, like the baobab tree that shelters many under its wide branches.

The Mockery of the Cross

The leaders and soldiers mocked Jesus: “If you are the Messiah, save yourself!” How often in our societies do we measure worth by power, wealth, or status? In many African cities, people taunt the poor, the disabled, or the marginalized, saying, “If your God is real, why are you suffering?” Yet the Cross teaches us that true kingship is not in escaping suffering but in transforming it with love.

Jesus did not save himself; he saved others. In African communal life, the chief or elder is not one who eats first but one who ensures everyone is fed. Jesus is the true elder of humanity, who lays down his life so that all may live.

The Repentant Thief

The second criminal turned to Jesus: “Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” This is the cry of every heart that longs for mercy. And Jesus replied, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.”

In African tradition, paradise is often imagined as a lush garden, a place of rivers and shade, where ancestors rest in peace. Jesus promises not a distant tomorrow but today. Salvation is immediate when we turn to him.

Think of the farmer who plants cassava: the harvest may take months, but the decision to plant is today. The thief planted faith in his final hour, and the harvest was eternal life.

Our Call

This Gospel calls us to three things:

• To forgive, even when wounded.

• To see beyond mockery and suffering, recognizing Christ’s kingship in humility.

• To turn to Jesus with the thief’s prayer: “Remember me.”

  
  

In our African communities, where life is shared in rhythm, drums, dance, storytelling, let us remember that Christ’s kingdom is not built on power but on mercy. His Cross is the drumbeat of love that gathers all nations, tribes, and tongues into one family.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus, at the place called The Skull, you opened the gates of Paradise to a repentant thief. Teach us to forgive like you, to endure mockery with dignity, and to trust in your mercy. May our lives, like the rhythms of Africa, echo your love and draw others into your kingdom. Amen.