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Today's Readings
Gospel
Mt 21:1-11
When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem and came to
Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying
to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will
find an ass tethered, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them
here to me. And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, ‘The
master has need of them.’ Then he will send them at once.” This
happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be
fulfilled: Say to daughter Zion, “Behold, your king comes to you,
meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of
burden.” The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them. They
brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them, and he
sat upon them. The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,
while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the
road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out
and saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is the he who
comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” And when he
entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is
this?” And the crowds replied, “This is Jesus the prophet, from
Nazareth in Galilee.”
Reading I
Is 50:4-7
The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know
how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after
morning he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled,
have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks
to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets
and spitting. The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not
disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not
be put to shame.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
R. (2a) My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? All
who see me scoff at me; they mock me with parted lips, they wag
their heads: “He relied on the LORD; let him deliver him, let him
rescue him, if he loves him.” R. My God, my God, why have you
abandoned me? Indeed, many dogs surround me, a pack of evildoers
closes in upon me; They have pierced my hands and my feet; I can
count all my bones. R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
They divide my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast
lots. But you, O LORD, be not far from me; O my help, hasten to aid
me. R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? I will
proclaim your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I
will praise you: “You who fear the LORD, praise him; all you
descendants of Jacob, give glory to him; revere him, all you
descendants of Israel!” R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned
me?
Reading II
Phil 2:6-11
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard
equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied
himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and
found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to
the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God
greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above
every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of
those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Gospel
Mt
26:14—27:66 or 27:11-54
One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief
priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him
over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that
time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. On the
first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached
Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the
Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,
‘The teacher says, My appointed time draws near; in your house I
shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.” The disciples then
did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover. When it
was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they
were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray
me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one
after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who
has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray
me. The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to
that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for
that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said
in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said
so.” While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the
blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and
eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it
to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of
the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the
forgiveness of sins. I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this
fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the
kingdom of my Father.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to
the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “This night all
of you will have your faith in me shaken, for it is written: I will
strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed;
but after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee.”
Peter said to him in reply, “Though all may have their faith in you
shaken, mine will never be.” Jesus said to him, “Amen, I say to you,
this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three
times.” Peter said to him, “Even though I should have to die
with you, I will not deny you.” And all the disciples spoke
likewise. Then Jesus came with them to a place called
Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over
there and pray.” He took along Peter and the two sons of
Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to
them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep
watch with me.” He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer,
saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me;
yet, not as I will, but as you will.” When he returned to his
disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “So you could not
keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not
undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is
weak.” Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, “My Father, if it
is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will
be done!” Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they
could not keep their eyes open. He left them and withdrew again and
prayed a third time, saying the same thing again. Then he returned
to his disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and
taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of
Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. Look, my
betrayer is at hand.” While he was still speaking, Judas, one
of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd, with swords
and clubs, who had come from the chief priests and the elders of the
people. His betrayer had arranged a sign with them, saying, “The man
I shall kiss is the one; arrest him.” Immediately he went over to
Jesus and said, “Hail, Rabbi!” and he kissed him. Jesus answered
him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then stepping forward they
laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. And behold, one of those who
accompanied Jesus put his hand to his sword, drew it, and struck the
high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him,
“Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword
will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot call upon my
Father and he will not provide me at this moment with more than
twelve legions of angels? But then how would the Scriptures be
fulfilled which say that it must come to pass in this way?” At that
hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a
robber, with swords and clubs to seize me? Day after day I sat
teaching in the temple area, yet you did not arrest me. But
all this has come to pass that the writings of the prophets may be
fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. Those
who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest,
where the scribes and the elders were assembled. Peter was following
him at a distance as far as the high priest’s courtyard, and going
inside he sat down with the servants to see the outcome. The chief
priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain false
testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found
none, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came
forward who stated, “This man said, ‘I can destroy the temple of God
and within three days rebuild it.’ The high priest rose and
addressed him, “Have you no answer? What are these men testifying
against you?” But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to
him, “I order you to tell us under oath before the living God
whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.” Jesus said to him in
reply, “You have said so. But I tell you: From now on you will see
‘the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power’ and ‘coming
on the clouds of heaven.’” Then the high priest tore his robes and
said, “He has blasphemed! What further need have we of witnesses?
You have now heard the blasphemy; what is your opinion?” They said
in reply, “He deserves to die!” Then they spat in his face and
struck him, while some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy for us,
Christ: who is it that struck you?” Now Peter was sitting
outside in the courtyard. One of the maids came over to him and
said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it in
front of everyone, saying, “I do not know what you are talking
about!” As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to
those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazorean.” Again
he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man!” A little later
the bystanders came over and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one
of them; even your speech gives you away.” At that he began to curse
and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately a cock
crowed. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken:
“Before the cock crows you will deny me three times.” He went out
and began to weep bitterly. When it was morning, all the chief
priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to
put him to death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over
to Pilate, the governor. Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that
Jesus had been condemned, deeply regretted what he had done. He
returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and
elders, saying, “I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.” They
said, “What is that to us? Look to it yourself.” Flinging the money
into the temple, he departed and went off and hanged himself. The
chief priests gathered up the money, but said, “It is not lawful to
deposit this in the temple treasury, for it is the price of blood.”
After consultation, they used it to buy the potter’s field as a
burial place for foreigners. That is why that field even today is
called the Field of Blood. Then was fulfilled what had been said
through Jeremiah the prophet, And they took the thirty pieces of
silver, the value of a man with a price on his head, a price set by
some of the Israelites, and they paid it out for the potter’s field
just as the Lord had commanded me. Now Jesus stood before the
governor, and he questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus said, “You say so.” And when he was accused by the chief
priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do
you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?” But
he did not answer him one word, so that the governor was greatly
amazed. Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was
accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wished.
And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So
when they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Which one do you want
me to release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?” For he knew
that it was out of envy that they had handed him over. While he was
still seated on the bench, his wife sent him a message, “Have
nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream
today because of him.” The chief priests and the elders persuaded
the crowds to ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus. The governor
said to them in reply, “Which of the two do you want me to release
to you?” They answered, "Barabbas!” Pilate said to them, “Then what
shall I do with Jesus called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be
crucified!” But he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only
shouted the louder, “Let him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he
was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead,
he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd,
saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. Look to it yourselves.”
And the whole people said in reply, “His blood be upon us and upon
our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had
Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified. Then the
soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and
gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes
and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of
thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand.
And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the
Jews!” They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on
the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the
cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucify
him. As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon;
this man they pressed into service to carry his cross. And
when they came to a place called Golgotha — which means Place of the
Skull —, they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall. But when he
had tasted it, he refused to drink. After they had crucified him,
they divided his garments by casting lots; then they sat down and
kept watch over him there. And they placed over his head the written
charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Two
revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and the
other on his left. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads
and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in
three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down
from the cross!” Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and
elders mocked him and said, “He saved others; he cannot save
himself. So he is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the
cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusted in God; let him
deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of
God.’” The revolutionaries who were crucified with him also kept
abusing him in the same way. From noon onward, darkness
came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about
three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema
sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken
me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “This one is
calling for Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge; he
soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to him to
drink. But the rest said, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save
him.” But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his
spirit.
Here all kneel and pause for a short time.
And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to
bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and
the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And
coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered
the holy city and appeared to many. The centurion and the men with
him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw
the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, “Truly,
this was the Son of God!” There were many women there, looking
on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering
to him. Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James
and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. When it was
evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was
himself a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the
body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the
body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linen and laid it in his new tomb
that he had hewn in the rock. Then he rolled a huge stone across the
entrance to the tomb and departed. But Mary Magdalene and the other
Mary remained sitting there, facing the tomb. The next day,
the one following the day of preparation, the chief priests and the
Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember that
this impostor while still alive said, ‘After three days I will be
raised up.’ Give orders, then, that the grave be secured until the
third day, lest his disciples come and steal him and say to the
people, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ This last imposture
would be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “The guard is
yours; go, secure it as best you can.” So they went and secured the
tomb by fixing a seal to the stone and setting the guard.
or
Jesus stood before the governor, Pontius Pilate, who questioned him,
“Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” And when
he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer.
Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they are
testifying against you?” But he did not answer him one word, so that
the governor was greatly amazed. Now on the occasion of the
feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one
prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious
prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had assembled, Pilate said to
them, “Which one do you want me to release to you, Barabbas, or
Jesus called Christ?” For he knew that it was out of envy that they
had handed him over. While he was still seated on the bench, his
wife sent him a message, “Have nothing to do with that righteous
man. I suffered much in a dream today because of him.” The chief
priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas but
to destroy Jesus. The governor said to them in reply, “Which of the
two do you want me to release to you?” They answered, "Barabbas!”
Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus called
Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” But he said, “Why?
What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Let him be
crucified!” When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but
that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his
hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this
man’s blood. Look to it yourselves.” And the whole people said in
reply, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.” Then he
released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he
handed him over to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the
governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole
cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet
military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed
it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before
him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat
upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head. And
when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed
him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucify him. As
they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon; this man they
pressed into service to carry his cross. And when they came to a
place called Golgotha — which means Place of the Skull —, they gave
Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall. But when he had tasted it, he
refused to drink. After they had crucified him, they divided his
garments by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him
there. And they placed over his head the written charge against him:
This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Two revolutionaries were
crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left.
Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, “You
who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save
yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down from the cross!”
Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him
and said, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the
king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will
believe in him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he
wants him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The revolutionaries
who were crucified with him also kept abusing him in the same way.
From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in
the afternoon. And about three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud
voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God,
why have you forsaken me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said,
“This one is calling for Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran to get
a sponge; he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to
him to drink. But the rest said, ‘Wait, let us see if Elijah comes
to save him.” But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up
his spirit.
Here all kneel and pause for a short time.
And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to
bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and
the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And
coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered
the holy city and appeared to many. The centurion and the men with
him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw
the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, “Truly,
this was the Son of God!” |
