Sacred Liturgy: Liturgy of the Word

PALM SUNDAY
 Year C
 

at the procession with palms

GOSPEL
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 19: 28-40

Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem. As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples. He said, “Go into the village opposite you, and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered on which no one had ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. And if anyone should ask you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you will answer, ‘The Master has need of it.’” So those who had been sent went off and found everything just as he had told them. And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying this colt­­?”they answered, “the Master has need of it.” So they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks over the colt, and helped Jesus to mount. As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road: and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him. “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He said in reply, “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!”

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First Reading
My face I did not shield from buffets and spitting knowing that I shall not be put to shame

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 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 hem. 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 cheek 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.

 

  

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Responsorial Psalm
Ps 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
R./ "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 vestures 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 descendents of Jacob, give glory to him;

              Revere him, all you descendents of Israel!”

R./ "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"

 

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Second Reading
Christ humbled himself. Because of this  God greatly exalted him.
 

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians 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.

 

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Gospel
Let the one among you who is without sin be the firts to throw a stone at her.  

 

The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke 22: 14-23: 56

 

N   When the hour came, Jesus took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them.

J   “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for I tell you, I shall not

      eat it again until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

N   Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said,

J   “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you that from this time on I shall not

       drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

N   Then he took the bread, said a blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying,

J   “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.”

N   And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying,

J   “This is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.

       And behold, the hand of the one who is to betray me is with me on the table; for the Son

       of Man indeed goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is

       betrayed.”

N   And they began to debate among themselves who among them would so such a deed.

      Then an argument broke out among them about which of them should be regarded as the

      greatest. He said to them,

J   “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them and those in authority over them are

       addressed as ‘Benefactors’; but among you it shall not be so. Rather, let the greatest

       among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant. For who is greater: the one

       seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one seated at table? I am among you

       as the one who serves. It is you who have stood by me in my trials; and I confer a

       kingdom on you, just as my Father had conferred one on me, that you may eat and drink

       at my table in my kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

      “Simon, Simon, behold Satan had demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed

       that your own faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen

       your brothers.”

N   He said to them,

O   “Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you.”

N   But he replied,

J   “I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day, you will deny three times that you

      know me.”

N   He said to them,

J   When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of

     anything?

C   “No, nothing,”

N   they replied. He said to them,

J   “but now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who

      does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture

      must be fulfilled in me, namely, He was counted among the wicked; and indeed what is

      written about me is coming to fulfillment.”

N   Then they said,

C   “Lord, look, there are two swords here.” But he replied,

J   “It is enough!”

N   Then going out, he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples

      followed him. When he arrived at the place he said to them,

J   “Pray that you may not undergo the test.”

N   After withdrawing about a stone’s throw from them and kneeling, he prayed, saying,

J   “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will but yours be

     done.”

N   And to strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him. He was in such agony and he

     prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the ground. When

     he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them sleeping form grief. He said

     to them,

J   “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test.”

N   While he was still speaking, a crowd approached and in front was one of the Twelve, a man

      named Judas. He went up to Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said to him,

J   “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

N   His disciples realized what was about to happen, and they asked,

C   “Lord, shall we strike with a sword?”

N   And one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said in

     reply,

J   “Stop, no more of this!”

N   Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him. And Jesus said to the chief priests and

      temple guard and elders who had come for him,

J   “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? Day after day I was with

     you in the temple area, and you did not seize me; but this is your hour, the time for the

     power of darkness.”

N   After arresting him they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest; Peter was following at a distance. They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter sat down with them. When a maid saw him seated in the light, she looked intently at him and said,

O   “This man too was with him.”

N   But he denied it saying,

O   “Woman, I do not know him.”

N   A short while later someone else saw him and said,

O   “You too are one of them”

N   but Peter answered,

O   “My friend, I am not.”

N   About an hour later, still another insisted,

O   “Assuredly, this man too was with him, for he also is a Galilean.”

N   But Peter said,

O   My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.

N   Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, and the Lord turned and looked at Peter; and

     Peter remembered the work of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the cock crows

     today, you will deny me three times.” He went out and began to weep bitterly. The men who

     held Jesus in custody were ridiculing and beating him. They blindfolded him and questioned

     him, saying,

C   “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?”

N   And they reviled him in saying many other things against him. When day came the council of

     elders of the people met, both chief priests and scribes, and they brought him before their

     Sanhedrin. They said,

C   “If you are the Christ, tell us,” but he replied to them,

J   “If I tell you , you will not believe, and if I question, you will not respond. But from this

      time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

N   They all asked,

C   “Are you then the Son of God?”

N   He replied to them,

J   “You say that I am.”

N   Then they said,

C   “What further need have we for testimony? We have heard it from his own mouth.”

N   Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought him before Pilate. They brought

      charges against him, saying,

C   “We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar and

      maintains that he is the Christ, a king.”

N   Pilate asked him,

O   “Are you the king of the Jews?”

N   He said to him in reply,

J   “You say so.”

N   Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds,

O   “I find this man not guilty.”

N   But they were adamant and said,

C   “He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee were he began

      even to here.”

N   On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; and upon learning that he was under

     Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was

     very glad to see Jesus; he had been wanting to see him for a long time, for he had heard

     about him and had been hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at length,

     but he gave him no answer. The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile, stood by accusing him

     harshly. Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him, and after

     clothing him in resplendent garb, he sent him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became

     friends that very day, even though they had been enemies formerly. Pilate then summoned

     the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and said to them,

O   “You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have

      conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the

      charges you have brought against him, nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no

      capital crime has been committed by him. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then

      release him.”

N   But all together they shouted out,

C   “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.”

N   -Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for

     murder.-Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their

     shouting,

C   “Crucify him, Crucify him!”

N   Pilate addressed them a third time,

O   “What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no capital crime. Therefore I shall have

        him flogged and then release him.”

N   With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices

      prevailed. The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. So he released the

      man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked, and he

      handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.

     As they led him they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the

     country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus. A large

     crowd of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him.

     Jesus turned to them and said

J   “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your

     children for indeed, the days are coming when people will say, “Blessed are the barren the

     wombs that never bore, and the breasts that never nursed.’ At that time people will say to

     the mountains, ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’ For if these things are done when

     the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?”

N   Now they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one

      on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said,

J   “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”

N    They divided his garments by casting lots. The people stood by and watched; the rulers,

      meanwhile, sneered at him and said,

C   “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.”

N   Even the soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out,

C   “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.”

N   Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.”

      Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus saying,

O   “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.”

N   The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,

O   “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the dame condemnation? And indeed, we

        have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but

       this man has done nothing criminal.”

N   Then he said,

O   “Jesus, remember me when you some into your kingdom.”

N   He replied to him,

J   “Amen I say to you, today you will be with mw in Paradise.”

N   It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon

     because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.

     Jesus cried out in a loud voice,

J   “Father into your hands I commend my spirit”;

N   and when he had said this he breathed his last.

 

Here all kneel and pause for short time.

 

N   The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said,

O   “This man was innocent beyond doubt.”

N   When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they

     returned home beating their breasts; but all his acquaintances stood at a distance, including

     the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these events.

 

Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who, though he was a member of the council, had not consented to their plan of action. He came from the Jewish townof Arimathea and was awaiting the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. After he had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried. It was the day of preparation, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come from Galilee with him followed behind, and when they had seen the tomb and the way in which his body was laid in it, they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils. Then they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

 

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