Reverend Larry Silva, Bishop | Diocese of Honolulu

On November 23, 2025, the Bishop of the Diocese of Honolulu delivered a homily for the Solemnity of Christ the King. In his message, he reflected on a personal experience from a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, where he spoke with a young Muslim Palestinian bus driver about the challenges and tensions among different religious and ethnic groups in the region. The bishop recounted that after discussing these difficulties, the driver said, “Maybe it is Jesus who will save us from all of this.” The bishop interpreted this as an expression of hope and possibly faith in Jesus.

The homily addressed not only conflicts abroad but also struggles closer to home. The bishop noted that while local communities may not face the same level of tension as those in the Holy Land, people still encounter personal and societal challenges. He said individuals might experience conflict within families or carry guilt from past actions such as marital infidelity or unjust treatment of others. “But, like that young bus driver, we can put our hope in Jesus, who longs to be the ruler of our lives so that he can give us the healing, forgiveness and peace we so desire,” he stated.

Referencing Gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion, he highlighted how even during suffering and rejection, Jesus offered forgiveness and hope to those who reached out to him: “Yet one among them dared to make an unlikely journey of hope...and asking Jesus to forgive him by admitting him to his kingdom. And we see Jesus, even in the midst of his sufferings, joyfully promising entry that very day into Paradise.”

The bishop connected these themes with contemporary issues such as civic division, economic hardship, rising poverty rates, immigration concerns, and increasing suicide rates among young people. He described these problems as evidence that many feel lost or without guidance.

He concluded by emphasizing that despite ongoing suffering or adversity, believers are encouraged by their faith: “But we celebrate this feast of Christ the King as a reminder that...we are on a pilgrimage to Paradise...The crucified One does not necessarily take away our suffering...But he assures us that we can always turn to him...and be granted the joy of entering into Paradise with him.”

He ended his homily with: “Long live Christ the King!”