FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 2:14, 22-33
It was impossible for him to be held in its power of Hades.
On the day of Pentecost Peter stood up with the Eleven and
addressed them in a loud voice: ‘Men of Judaea, and all you who
live in Jerusalem, make no mistake about this, but listen carefully to
what I say. Men of Israel, listen to what I am going to say: Jesus the
Nazarene was a man commended to you by God by the miracles
and portents and signs that God worked through him when he was
among you, as you all know. This man, who was put into your power
by the deliberate intention and foreknowledge of God, you took
and had crucified by men outside the Law. You killed him, but God
raised him to life, freeing him from the pangs of Hades; for it was
impossible for him to be held in its power since, as David says of him:
“I saw the Lord before me always, for with him at my right hand nothing
can shake me. So my heart was glad and my tongue cried out with joy;
my body, too, will rest in the hope that you will not abandon
my soul to Hades nor allow your holy one to experience corruption.
You have made known the way of life to me,
you will fill me with gladness through your presence.”
‘Brothers, no one can deny that the patriarch David himself is dead
and buried: his tomb is still with us. But since he was a prophet, and
knew that God had sworn him an oath to make one of his
descendants succeed him on the throne, ‘what he foresaw and
spoke about was the resurrection of the Christ: he is the one who
was not abandoned to Hades, and whose body did not experience
corruption. God raised this man Jesus to life, and all of us are
witnesses to that. Now raised to the heights by God’s right hand, he
has received from the Father the Holy Spirit, who was promised, and
what you see and hear is the outpouring of that Spirit.’
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 15
Response: Show us, Lord, the path of life.
1. Preserve me, God, I take refuge in you.
I say to the Lord: ‘You are my God.
O Lord, it is you who are my portion and cup;
it is you yourself who are my prize.’
2. I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel,
who even at night directs my heart.
I keep the Lord ever in my sight:
since he is at my right hand, I shall stand firm.
3. And so my heart rejoices, my soul is glad;
even my body shall rest in safety.
For you will not leave my soul among the dead,
nor let your beloved know decay.
4. You will show me the path of life,
the fullness of joy in your presence,
at your right hand happiness for ever.
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Peter 1:17-21
If you are acknowledging as your Father one who has no favourites
and judges everyone according to what he has done, you must be
scrupulously careful as long as you are living away from your home.
Remember, the ransom that was paid to free you from the useless
way of life your ancestors handed down was not paid in anything
corruptible, neither in silver nor gold, but in the precious blood of a
lamb without spot or stain, namely Christ; who, though known since
before the world was made, has been revealed only in our time, the
end of the ages, for your sake. Through him you now have faith in
God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory for that very
reason – so that you would have faith and hope in God.
The Word of the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation Lk 24:32
Alleluia, alleluia!
Lord Jesus, explain the scriptures to us.
Make our hearts burn within us as you talk to us
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke 24:13-35
They recognised him at the breaking of bread.
Two of the disciples of Jesus were on their way to a village called
Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking
together about all that had happened. Now as they talked this over,
Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but something
prevented them from recognizing him. He said to them, ‘What
matters are you discussing as you walk along?’ They stopped short,
their faces downcast.
Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, ‘You must be the
only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that
have been happening there these last few days’. ‘What things?’ he
asked. ‘All about Jesus of Nazareth’ they answered ‘who proved he
was a great prophet by the things he said and did in the sight of
God and of the whole people; and how our chief priests and our
leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him
crucified. Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set
Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have gone by since it all
happened; and some women from our group have astounded us:
they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they did not
find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of
angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the
tomb and found everything exactly as the women had reported, but
of him they saw nothing.’
Then he said to them, ‘You foolish men! So slow to believe the full
message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should
suffer and so enter into his glory?’ Then, starting with Moses and
going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages
throughout the scriptures that were about himself.
When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he
made as if to go on; but they pressed him to stay with them. ‘It is
nearly evening’ they said ‘and the day is almost over.’ So he went in
to stay with them.
Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said
the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes
were opened and they recognized him; but he had vanished from
their sight.
Then they said to each other, ‘Did not our hearts burn within us as he
talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?’
They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found
the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to
them, ‘Yes, it is true. The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.’
Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and
how they had recognized him at the breaking of bread.
The Gospel of the Lord.
CHURCH OF ST JOSEPH, PLENTONG 避 兰 圣 若 瑟 天 主 堂 LOT 2139, Jalan Bunga Raya, 81750 Plentong, Johor, Malaysia Tel/Fax: 07-386 3062 Email: stjoseph@ymail.com
Saturday, 25 April 2020
Saturday, 18 April 2020
Mass Readings - Sunday, 19th April 2020
Introduction
The struggle for faith experienced by Thomas leads us to think on the meaning of
faith in the risen Christ. We cannot depend on physical experience of Christ but
know his presence in gathered community, in the hearing of the word and in
sacramental signs. So the Christian community is a thankful one, always blessing
God for a sure hope through the resurrection of Christ.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47
The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common.
The whole community remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the
brotherhood, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.
The many miracles and signs worked through the apostles made a deep
impression on everyone.
The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common; they sold their
goods and possessions and shared out the proceeds among themselves
according to what each one needed.
They went as a body to the Temple every day but met in their houses for the
breaking of bread; they shared their food gladly and generously; they praised
God and were looked up to by everyone. Day by day the Lord added to their
community those destined to be saved.
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm Ps 117
Response: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
1. Let the sons of Israel say:
‘His love has no end.’
Let the sons of Aaron say:
‘His love has no end,’
Let those who fear the Lord say:
‘His love has no end.’
2. I was thrust, thrust down and falling
but the Lord was my helper.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he was my saviour.
There are shouts of joy and victory
in the tents of the just.
3. The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord,
a marvel in our eyes.
This day was made by the Lord;
we rejoice and are glad.
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Peter 1:3-9
In his great mercy God has given us a new birth as his sons, by raising Jesus Christ
from the dead.
Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has
given us a new birth as his sons, by raising Jesus Christ from the dead, so that we
have a sure hope and the promise of an inheritance that can never be spoilt or
soiled and never fade away, because it is being kept for you in the heavens.
Through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has
been prepared is revealed at the end of time. This is a cause of great joy for
you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all
sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been
tested and proved like gold – only it is more precious than gold, which is
corruptible even though it bears testing by fire – and then you will have praise
and glory and honour. You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without
seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be
described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your
faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Jn 20: 29
Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus said to him: ‘You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to John 20:19-31
Eight days later, Jesus came.
In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were
closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came
and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed
them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the
Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.
‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’
After saying this he breathed on them and said:
‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven;
for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.’
Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when
Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered,
‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger
into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to
believe’. Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was
with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them.
‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here;
look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no
longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him:
‘You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’
There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they
are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life
through his name.
The Gospel of the Lord
The struggle for faith experienced by Thomas leads us to think on the meaning of
faith in the risen Christ. We cannot depend on physical experience of Christ but
know his presence in gathered community, in the hearing of the word and in
sacramental signs. So the Christian community is a thankful one, always blessing
God for a sure hope through the resurrection of Christ.
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 2:42-47
The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common.
The whole community remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the
brotherhood, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers.
The many miracles and signs worked through the apostles made a deep
impression on everyone.
The faithful all lived together and owned everything in common; they sold their
goods and possessions and shared out the proceeds among themselves
according to what each one needed.
They went as a body to the Temple every day but met in their houses for the
breaking of bread; they shared their food gladly and generously; they praised
God and were looked up to by everyone. Day by day the Lord added to their
community those destined to be saved.
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm Ps 117
Response: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
1. Let the sons of Israel say:
‘His love has no end.’
Let the sons of Aaron say:
‘His love has no end,’
Let those who fear the Lord say:
‘His love has no end.’
2. I was thrust, thrust down and falling
but the Lord was my helper.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he was my saviour.
There are shouts of joy and victory
in the tents of the just.
3. The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord,
a marvel in our eyes.
This day was made by the Lord;
we rejoice and are glad.
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Peter 1:3-9
In his great mercy God has given us a new birth as his sons, by raising Jesus Christ
from the dead.
Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has
given us a new birth as his sons, by raising Jesus Christ from the dead, so that we
have a sure hope and the promise of an inheritance that can never be spoilt or
soiled and never fade away, because it is being kept for you in the heavens.
Through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has
been prepared is revealed at the end of time. This is a cause of great joy for
you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all
sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been
tested and proved like gold – only it is more precious than gold, which is
corruptible even though it bears testing by fire – and then you will have praise
and glory and honour. You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without
seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be
described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your
faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Jn 20: 29
Alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus said to him: ‘You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to John 20:19-31
Eight days later, Jesus came.
In the evening of that same day, the first day of the week, the doors were
closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews. Jesus came
and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you’, and showed
them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy when they saw the
Lord, and he said to them again, ‘Peace be with you.
‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’
After saying this he breathed on them and said:
‘Receive the Holy Spirit.
For those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven;
for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.’
Thomas, called the Twin, who was one of the Twelve, was not with them when
Jesus came. When the disciples said, ‘We have seen the Lord’, he answered,
‘Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger
into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to
believe’. Eight days later the disciples were in the house again and Thomas was
with them. The doors were closed, but Jesus came in and stood among them.
‘Peace be with you’ he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here;
look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no
longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him:
‘You believe because you can see me.
Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.’
There were many other signs that Jesus worked and the disciples saw, but they
are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing this you may have life
through his name.
The Gospel of the Lord
Saturday, 11 April 2020
Mass Readings - Sunday, 12th April 2020
FIRST READING
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 10:34. 37-43
We have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection.
Peter addressed Cornelius and his household: ‘You must have heard
about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth
and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching
baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power,
and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and
curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil. Now I, and
those with me, can witness to everything he did throughout the
countryside of Judaea and in Jerusalem itself: and also to the fact
that they killed him by hanging him on a tree, yet three days
afterwards God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen, not by
the whole people but only by certain witnesses God had chosen
beforehand. Now we are those witnesses – we have eaten and
drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead – and he has
ordered us to proclaim this to his people and to tell them that God
has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or dead. It is to him that
all the prophets bear this witness: that all who believe in Jesus will
have their sins forgiven through his name.’
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 117
Response: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
1. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his love has no end.
Let the sons of Israel say:
‘His love has no end.’
2. The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
his right hand raised me up.
I shall not die, I shall live
and recount his deeds.
3. The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord,
a marvel in our eyes.
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Colossians 3:1-4
You must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is.
Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ, you must
look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is, sitting at God’s
right hand. Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on the
things that are on the earth, because you have died, and now the
life you have is hidden with Christ in God. But when Christ is revealed
– and he is your life – you too will be revealed in all your glory with him.
The Word of the Lord.
__________________________________________
Alternative READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 5:6-8
Get rid of all the old yeast, and make yourselves into a completely
new batch of bread.
You must know how even a small amount of yeast is enough to
leaven all the dough, so get rid of all the old yeast, and make
yourselves into a completely new batch of bread, unleavened as
you are meant to be. Christ, our passover, has been sacrificed; let us
celebrate the feast, by getting rid of all the old yeast of evil and
wickedness, having only the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
The Word of the Lord.
________________________________
Sequence
Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer sacrifice and praise.
The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb;
and Christ, the undefiled,
hath sinners to his Father reconciled.
Death with life contended:
combat strangely ended!
Life’s own Champion, slain, yet lives to reign.
Tell us, Mary: say what thou didst see upon the way.
The tomb the Living did enclose;
I saw Christ’s glory as he rose!
The angels there attesting;
shroud with grave-clothes resting.
Christ, my hope, has risen: he goes before you into Galilee.
That Christ is truly risen from the dead we know.
Victorious king, thy mercy show!
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
Christ, our passover, has been sacrificed;
let us celebrate the feast then, in the Lord.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to John 20:1-9
He must rise from the dead.
It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when
Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had
been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter
and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the
Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have
put him.’
So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb.
They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter,
reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying
on the ground, but did not go in.
Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the
tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that
had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled
up in a place by itself.
Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in;
he saw and he believed. Till this moment they had failed to
understand the teaching of scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
The Gospel of the Lord.
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 10:34. 37-43
We have eaten and drunk with him after his resurrection.
Peter addressed Cornelius and his household: ‘You must have heard
about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth
and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching
baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power,
and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and
curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil. Now I, and
those with me, can witness to everything he did throughout the
countryside of Judaea and in Jerusalem itself: and also to the fact
that they killed him by hanging him on a tree, yet three days
afterwards God raised him to life and allowed him to be seen, not by
the whole people but only by certain witnesses God had chosen
beforehand. Now we are those witnesses – we have eaten and
drunk with him after his resurrection from the dead – and he has
ordered us to proclaim this to his people and to tell them that God
has appointed him to judge everyone, alive or dead. It is to him that
all the prophets bear this witness: that all who believe in Jesus will
have their sins forgiven through his name.’
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 117
Response: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
1. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,
for his love has no end.
Let the sons of Israel say:
‘His love has no end.’
2. The Lord’s right hand has triumphed;
his right hand raised me up.
I shall not die, I shall live
and recount his deeds.
3. The stone which the builders rejected
has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord,
a marvel in our eyes.
SECOND READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Colossians 3:1-4
You must look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is.
Since you have been brought back to true life with Christ, you must
look for the things that are in heaven, where Christ is, sitting at God’s
right hand. Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on the
things that are on the earth, because you have died, and now the
life you have is hidden with Christ in God. But when Christ is revealed
– and he is your life – you too will be revealed in all your glory with him.
The Word of the Lord.
__________________________________________
Alternative READING
A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Corinthians 5:6-8
Get rid of all the old yeast, and make yourselves into a completely
new batch of bread.
You must know how even a small amount of yeast is enough to
leaven all the dough, so get rid of all the old yeast, and make
yourselves into a completely new batch of bread, unleavened as
you are meant to be. Christ, our passover, has been sacrificed; let us
celebrate the feast, by getting rid of all the old yeast of evil and
wickedness, having only the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
The Word of the Lord.
________________________________
Sequence
Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer sacrifice and praise.
The sheep are ransomed by the Lamb;
and Christ, the undefiled,
hath sinners to his Father reconciled.
Death with life contended:
combat strangely ended!
Life’s own Champion, slain, yet lives to reign.
Tell us, Mary: say what thou didst see upon the way.
The tomb the Living did enclose;
I saw Christ’s glory as he rose!
The angels there attesting;
shroud with grave-clothes resting.
Christ, my hope, has risen: he goes before you into Galilee.
That Christ is truly risen from the dead we know.
Victorious king, thy mercy show!
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
Christ, our passover, has been sacrificed;
let us celebrate the feast then, in the Lord.
Alleluia!
GOSPEL
A reading from the Gospel according to John 20:1-9
He must rise from the dead.
It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when
Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had
been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter
and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the
Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have
put him.’
So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb.
They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter,
reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths lying
on the ground, but did not go in.
Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the
tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that
had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths but rolled
up in a place by itself.
Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in;
he saw and he believed. Till this moment they had failed to
understand the teaching of scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Thursday, 9 April 2020
OFFERTORY & DONATIONS
Shalom.
During this period of *Movement Control Order* many families
need our help with foodstuff and daily essentials.
Our parish also rely on your
offertory to cover part of our maintenance cost in keeping the parish ready for
re-opening whenever that day may be.
Any donations can be issued to our
church's account.
Name: Church of St Joseph
Bank: Public Bank Berhad
A/C No.: 3128523605
Thank you for caring for others.
Stay home. Stay safe.
*God bless!*
**Remark**
For those who require receipt for income tax purposes, you may produce copy of your payment slip
to our Parish Office at a later date when "Movement Control Order" is over.
Saturday, 4 April 2020
Mass Readings - Sunday, 5th April 2020
Procession Gospel :
Matthew 21:1-11
When they were near Jerusalem and had come in sight of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village facing you, and you will immediately find a tethered donkey and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, “The Master needs them and will send them back directly”.’ This took place to fulfil the prophecy: ‘Say to the daughter of Zion: Look, your king comes to you; he is humble, he rides on a donkey and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ So the disciples went out and did as Jesus had told them. They brought the donkey and the colt, then they laid their cloaks on their backs and he sat on them. Great crowds of people spread their cloaks on the road, while others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in his path. The crowds who went in front of him and those who followed were all shouting: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heavens!’ And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil. ‘Who is this?’ people asked, and the crowds answered, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee’.
The Gospel of the Lord.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 50:4-7
I did not cover my face against insult-I know I shall not be shamed.
The Lord has given me a disciple’s tongue. So that I may know how to reply to the wearied he provides me with speech. Each morning he wakes me to hear, to listen like a disciple. The Lord has opened my ear. For my part, I made no resistance, neither did I turn away. I offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore at my beard; I did not cover my face against insult and spittle. The Lord comes to my help, so that I am untouched by the insults. So, too, I set my face like flint; I know I shall not be shamed.
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 21
Respond:
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
1. All who see me deride me. They curl their lips, they toss their heads. ‘He trusted in the Lord, let him save him; let him release him if this is his friend.’
2. Many dogs have surrounded me, a band of the wicked beset me. They tear holes in my hands and my feet. I can count everyone of my bones.
3. They divide my clothing among them. They cast lots for my robe. O Lord, do not leave me alone, my strength, make haste to help me!
4. I will tell of your name to my brethren and praise you where they are assembled. ‘You who fear the Lord give him praise; all sons of Jacob, give him glory. Revere him, Israel’s sons.’
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to Philippians 2:6-11 He humbled himself, but God raised him high.
His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as men are; and being as all men are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Phil 2: 8-9
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
Christ was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all names.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST according to Matthew (26:14-27:66)
One of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you prepared to give me if I hand him over to you?’ They paid him thirty silver pieces, and from that moment he looked for an opportunity to betray him. Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus to say, ‘Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the passover?’ ‘Go to so-and-so in the city’ he replied ‘and say to him, “The Master says: My time is near. It is at your house that I am keeping Passover with my disciples.”‘ The disciples did what Jesus told them and prepared the Passover. When evening came he was at table with the twelve disciples. And while they were eating he said ‘I tell you solemnly, one of you is about to betray me’ They were greatly distressed and started asking him in turn, ‘Not I, Lord, surely?’ He answered, ‘Someone who has dipped his hand into the dish with me, will betray me. The Son of Man is going to his fate, as the scriptures say he will, but alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! Better for that man if he had never been born!’ Judas, who was to betray him; asked in his turn, ‘Not I, Rabbi, surely?’ ‘They are your own words’ answered Jesus.
Now as they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to the disciples. ‘Take it and eat;’ he said ‘this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had returned thanks he gave it to them. ‘Drink all of you from this,’ he said ‘for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. From now on, I tell you, I shall not drink wine until the day I drink the new wine with you in the kingdom of my Father.’ After psalms had been sung they left for the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, ‘You will all lose faith in me this night, for the scripture says: “I shall strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered, but after my resurrection I shall go before you to Galilee”. At this, Peter said, ‘Though all lose faith in you, I will never lose faith’. Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you solemnly, this very night, before the cock crows, you will have disowned me three times’. Peter said to him, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you’. And all the disciples said the same. Then Jesus came with them to a small estate called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Stay here while I go over there to pray’. He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him. And sadness came over him, and great distress. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here and keep awake with me.’ And going on a little further he fell on his face and prayed. ‘My Father,’ he said ‘if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Nevertheless, let it be as you, not I, would have it.’ He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, ‘So you had not the strength to keep awake with me one hour? You should be awake, and praying not to be put to the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ Again, a second time, he went away and prayed: ‘My Father,’ he said ‘If this cup cannot pass by without my drinking it, your will be done!’ And he came back again and found them sleeping, their eyes were so heavy. Leaving them there, he went away again and prayed for the third time, repeating the same words. Then he came back to the disciples and said to them, ‘You can sleep on now and take your rest. Now the hour has come when the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up! Let us go! My betrayer is already close at hand.’ He was still speaking when Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared, and with him a large number of men armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people. Now the traitor had arranged a sign with them. ‘The one I kiss,’ he had said ‘he is the man. Take him in charge.’ So he went straight up to Jesus and said,
‘Greetings, Rabbi’, and kissed him. Jesus said to him, ‘My friend, do what you are here for’. Then they came forward, seized Jesus and took him in charge. At that, one of the followers of Jesus grasped his sword and drew it; he struck out at the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear. Jesus then said, ‘Put your sword back, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father who would promptly send more than twelve legions of angels to my defence? But then, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that say this is the way it must be?’ It was at this time that Jesus said to the crowds, ‘Am I a brigand, that you had to set out to capture me with swords and clubs? I sat teaching in the Temple day after day and you never laid hands on me.’ Now all this happened to fulfil the prophecies in scripture. Then all the disciples deserted him and ran away. The men who had arrested Jesus led him off to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. Peter followed him at a distance, and when he reached the high priest’s palace, he went in and sat down with the attendants to see what the end would be. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus, however false, on which they might pass the death-sentence. But they could not find any, though several lying witnesses came forward. Eventually two stepped forward and made a statement, ‘This man said, “I have power to destroy the Temple of God and in three days build it up.” ‘The high priest then stood up and said to him, ‘Have you no answer to that? What is this evidence these men are bringing against you?’ But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, ‘I put you on oath by the living God to tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God’. ‘The words are your own’ answered Jesus. ‘Moreover, I tell you that from this time onward you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ At this, the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘He has blasphemed. What need of witnesses have we now? There! You have just heard the blasphemy. What is your opinion?’ They answered, ‘He deserves to die’. Then they spat in his face and hit him with their fists; others said as they struck him, ‘Play the prophet, Christ! Who hit you then?’ Meanwhile Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came up to him and said, ‘You too were with Jesus the Galilean’. But he denied it in front of them all. ‘I do not know what you are talking about’ he said. When he went out to the gateway another servant-girl saw him and said to the people there, ‘This man was with Jesus the Nazarene’. And again, with an oath, he denied it, ‘I do not know the man’. A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, ‘You are one of them for sure! Why, your accent gives you away.’ Then he started calling down curses on himself and swearing, ‘I do not know the man’. At that moment the cock crew, and Peter remembered what Jesus had said, ‘Before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times’. And he went outside and wept bitterly When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people met in council to bring about the death of Jesus. They had him bound, and led him away to hand him over to Pilate, the governor. When he found that Jesus had been condemned, Judas his betrayer was filled with remorse and took the thirty silver pieces back to the chief priests and elders. ‘I have sinned;’ he said ‘I have betrayed innocent blood’ ‘What is that to us?’ they replied ‘That is your concern.’ And flinging down the silver pieces in the sanctuary he made off and hanged himself; The chief priests picked up the silver pieces and said, ‘It is against the Law to put this into the treasury; it is bloodmoney’. So they discussed the matter and bought the potter’s field with it as a graveyard for foreigners, and this is why the field is called the Field of Blood today. The words of the prophet Jeremiah were then fulfilled: And they took the thirty silver pieces, the sum at which the precious One was priced by children of Israel, and they gave them for the potter’s field, just as the Lord directed me. Jesus, then, was brought before the governor, and the governor put to him this question, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Jesus replied, ‘It is you who say it’. But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders he refused to answer at all. Pilate then said to him, ‘Do you not hear how many charges they have brought against you?’ But to the governor’s complete amazement, he offered no reply to any of the charges. At festival time it was the governor’s practice to release a prisoner for the people, anyone they chose. Now there was at that time a notorious prisoner whose name was Barabbas. So when the crowd gathered, Pilate said to them, ‘Which do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’ For Pilate knew it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. Now as he was seated in the chair of judgement, his wife sent him a message, ‘Have nothing to do with that man; I have been upset all day by a dream I had about him’. The chief priests and the elders, however, had persuaded the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus. So when the governor spoke and asked them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release for you?’ they said, ‘Barabbas’. ‘But in that case,’ Pilate said to them ‘what am I to do with Jesus who is called
Christ?’ They all said, ‘Let him be crucified!’ ‘Why?’ he asked ‘What harm has he done?’ But they shouted all the louder, ‘Let him be crucified!’ Then Pilate saw that he was making no impression, that in fact a riot was imminent. So he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd and said, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your concern.’ And the people, to a man, shouted back, ‘His blood be on us and on our children!’ Then he released Barabbas for them. He ordered Jesus to be first scourged and then handed over to be crucified. The governor’s soldiers took Jesus with them into the Praetorium and collected the whole cohort round him. Then they stripped him and made him wear a scarlet cloak, and having twisted some thorns into a crown they put this on his head and placed a reed in his right hand. To make fun of him they knelt to him saying, ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ And they spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head with it. And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the cloak and dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucify him. On their way out, they came across a man from Cyrene, Simon by name, and enlisted him to carry his cross. When they had reached a place called Golgotha, that is, the place of the skull, they gave him wine to drink mixed with gall, which he tasted but refused to drink. When they had finished crucifying him they shared out his clothing by casting lots, and then sat down and stayed there keeping guard over him. Above his head was placed the charge against him; it read: ‘This is Jesus, the King of the Jews’. At the same time two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. The passers-by jeered at him; they shook their heads and said, ‘So you would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days! Then save yourself! If you are God’s son, come down from the cross!’ The chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him in the same way. ‘He saved others;’ they said ‘he cannot save himself. He is the king of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He puts his trust in God; now let God rescue him if he wants him. For he did say, “I am the son of God”.’ Even the robbers who were crucified with him taunted him in the same way. From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you deserted me?’ When some of those who stood there heard this, they said, ‘The man is calling on Elijah’, and one of them quickly ran to get a sponge which he dipped in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it him to drink. ‘Wait!’ said the rest of them ‘and see if Elijah will come to save him.’ But Jesus, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.
(All kneel and pause a moment.)
At that, the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked; the rocks were split; the tombs opened and the bodies of many holy men rose from the dead, and these, after his resurrection, came out of the tombs, entered the Holy City and appeared to a number of people. Meanwhile the centurion, together with the others guarding Jesus, had seen the earthquake and all that was taking place, and they were terrified and said: ‘In truth this was a son of God.’ And many women were there, watching from a distance, the same women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and looked after him. Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. When it was evening, there came a rich man of Arimathea called Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate thereupon ordered it to be handed over. So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean shroud and put it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a large stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away. Now Mary of Magdala and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulchre. Next day, that is, when Preparation Day was over, the chief priests and the Pharisees went in a body to Pilate and said to him, ‘Your Excellency, we recall that this impostor said, while he was still alive, “After three days I shall rise again.” Therefore give the order to have the sepulchre kept secure until the third day, for fear his disciples come and steal him away and tell the people, “He has risen from the dead.” This last piece of fraud would be worse than what went before. Pilate said to them: You may have your guards. Go and make all as secure as you know how.’ So they went and made the sepulchre secure, putting seals on the stone and mounting a guard.
Matthew 21:1-11
When they were near Jerusalem and had come in sight of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, ‘Go to the village facing you, and you will immediately find a tethered donkey and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you are to say, “The Master needs them and will send them back directly”.’ This took place to fulfil the prophecy: ‘Say to the daughter of Zion: Look, your king comes to you; he is humble, he rides on a donkey and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ So the disciples went out and did as Jesus had told them. They brought the donkey and the colt, then they laid their cloaks on their backs and he sat on them. Great crowds of people spread their cloaks on the road, while others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in his path. The crowds who went in front of him and those who followed were all shouting: ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heavens!’ And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil. ‘Who is this?’ people asked, and the crowds answered, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee’.
The Gospel of the Lord.
FIRST READING
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah 50:4-7
I did not cover my face against insult-I know I shall not be shamed.
The Lord has given me a disciple’s tongue. So that I may know how to reply to the wearied he provides me with speech. Each morning he wakes me to hear, to listen like a disciple. The Lord has opened my ear. For my part, I made no resistance, neither did I turn away. I offered my back to those who struck me, my cheeks to those who tore at my beard; I did not cover my face against insult and spittle. The Lord comes to my help, so that I am untouched by the insults. So, too, I set my face like flint; I know I shall not be shamed.
The Word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 21
Respond:
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
1. All who see me deride me. They curl their lips, they toss their heads. ‘He trusted in the Lord, let him save him; let him release him if this is his friend.’
2. Many dogs have surrounded me, a band of the wicked beset me. They tear holes in my hands and my feet. I can count everyone of my bones.
3. They divide my clothing among them. They cast lots for my robe. O Lord, do not leave me alone, my strength, make haste to help me!
4. I will tell of your name to my brethren and praise you where they are assembled. ‘You who fear the Lord give him praise; all sons of Jacob, give him glory. Revere him, Israel’s sons.’
SECOND READING
A reading from the first letter of St Paul to Philippians 2:6-11 He humbled himself, but God raised him high.
His state was divine, yet he did not cling to his equality with God but emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave, and became as men are; and being as all men are, he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all other names so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation Phil 2: 8-9
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
Christ was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all names.
Praise to you, O Christ, King of eternal glory!
THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST according to Matthew (26:14-27:66)
One of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you prepared to give me if I hand him over to you?’ They paid him thirty silver pieces, and from that moment he looked for an opportunity to betray him. Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus to say, ‘Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the passover?’ ‘Go to so-and-so in the city’ he replied ‘and say to him, “The Master says: My time is near. It is at your house that I am keeping Passover with my disciples.”‘ The disciples did what Jesus told them and prepared the Passover. When evening came he was at table with the twelve disciples. And while they were eating he said ‘I tell you solemnly, one of you is about to betray me’ They were greatly distressed and started asking him in turn, ‘Not I, Lord, surely?’ He answered, ‘Someone who has dipped his hand into the dish with me, will betray me. The Son of Man is going to his fate, as the scriptures say he will, but alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! Better for that man if he had never been born!’ Judas, who was to betray him; asked in his turn, ‘Not I, Rabbi, surely?’ ‘They are your own words’ answered Jesus.
Now as they were eating, Jesus took some bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to the disciples. ‘Take it and eat;’ he said ‘this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had returned thanks he gave it to them. ‘Drink all of you from this,’ he said ‘for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. From now on, I tell you, I shall not drink wine until the day I drink the new wine with you in the kingdom of my Father.’ After psalms had been sung they left for the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, ‘You will all lose faith in me this night, for the scripture says: “I shall strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered, but after my resurrection I shall go before you to Galilee”. At this, Peter said, ‘Though all lose faith in you, I will never lose faith’. Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you solemnly, this very night, before the cock crows, you will have disowned me three times’. Peter said to him, ‘Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you’. And all the disciples said the same. Then Jesus came with them to a small estate called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Stay here while I go over there to pray’. He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him. And sadness came over him, and great distress. Then he said to them, ‘My soul is sorrowful to the point of death. Wait here and keep awake with me.’ And going on a little further he fell on his face and prayed. ‘My Father,’ he said ‘if it is possible, let this cup pass me by. Nevertheless, let it be as you, not I, would have it.’ He came back to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, ‘So you had not the strength to keep awake with me one hour? You should be awake, and praying not to be put to the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’ Again, a second time, he went away and prayed: ‘My Father,’ he said ‘If this cup cannot pass by without my drinking it, your will be done!’ And he came back again and found them sleeping, their eyes were so heavy. Leaving them there, he went away again and prayed for the third time, repeating the same words. Then he came back to the disciples and said to them, ‘You can sleep on now and take your rest. Now the hour has come when the Son of Man is to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up! Let us go! My betrayer is already close at hand.’ He was still speaking when Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared, and with him a large number of men armed with swords and clubs, sent by the chief priests and elders of the people. Now the traitor had arranged a sign with them. ‘The one I kiss,’ he had said ‘he is the man. Take him in charge.’ So he went straight up to Jesus and said,
‘Greetings, Rabbi’, and kissed him. Jesus said to him, ‘My friend, do what you are here for’. Then they came forward, seized Jesus and took him in charge. At that, one of the followers of Jesus grasped his sword and drew it; he struck out at the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear. Jesus then said, ‘Put your sword back, for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father who would promptly send more than twelve legions of angels to my defence? But then, how would the scriptures be fulfilled that say this is the way it must be?’ It was at this time that Jesus said to the crowds, ‘Am I a brigand, that you had to set out to capture me with swords and clubs? I sat teaching in the Temple day after day and you never laid hands on me.’ Now all this happened to fulfil the prophecies in scripture. Then all the disciples deserted him and ran away. The men who had arrested Jesus led him off to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. Peter followed him at a distance, and when he reached the high priest’s palace, he went in and sat down with the attendants to see what the end would be. The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus, however false, on which they might pass the death-sentence. But they could not find any, though several lying witnesses came forward. Eventually two stepped forward and made a statement, ‘This man said, “I have power to destroy the Temple of God and in three days build it up.” ‘The high priest then stood up and said to him, ‘Have you no answer to that? What is this evidence these men are bringing against you?’ But Jesus was silent. And the high priest said to him, ‘I put you on oath by the living God to tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God’. ‘The words are your own’ answered Jesus. ‘Moreover, I tell you that from this time onward you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ At this, the high priest tore his clothes and said, ‘He has blasphemed. What need of witnesses have we now? There! You have just heard the blasphemy. What is your opinion?’ They answered, ‘He deserves to die’. Then they spat in his face and hit him with their fists; others said as they struck him, ‘Play the prophet, Christ! Who hit you then?’ Meanwhile Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came up to him and said, ‘You too were with Jesus the Galilean’. But he denied it in front of them all. ‘I do not know what you are talking about’ he said. When he went out to the gateway another servant-girl saw him and said to the people there, ‘This man was with Jesus the Nazarene’. And again, with an oath, he denied it, ‘I do not know the man’. A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, ‘You are one of them for sure! Why, your accent gives you away.’ Then he started calling down curses on himself and swearing, ‘I do not know the man’. At that moment the cock crew, and Peter remembered what Jesus had said, ‘Before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times’. And he went outside and wept bitterly When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people met in council to bring about the death of Jesus. They had him bound, and led him away to hand him over to Pilate, the governor. When he found that Jesus had been condemned, Judas his betrayer was filled with remorse and took the thirty silver pieces back to the chief priests and elders. ‘I have sinned;’ he said ‘I have betrayed innocent blood’ ‘What is that to us?’ they replied ‘That is your concern.’ And flinging down the silver pieces in the sanctuary he made off and hanged himself; The chief priests picked up the silver pieces and said, ‘It is against the Law to put this into the treasury; it is bloodmoney’. So they discussed the matter and bought the potter’s field with it as a graveyard for foreigners, and this is why the field is called the Field of Blood today. The words of the prophet Jeremiah were then fulfilled: And they took the thirty silver pieces, the sum at which the precious One was priced by children of Israel, and they gave them for the potter’s field, just as the Lord directed me. Jesus, then, was brought before the governor, and the governor put to him this question, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Jesus replied, ‘It is you who say it’. But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders he refused to answer at all. Pilate then said to him, ‘Do you not hear how many charges they have brought against you?’ But to the governor’s complete amazement, he offered no reply to any of the charges. At festival time it was the governor’s practice to release a prisoner for the people, anyone they chose. Now there was at that time a notorious prisoner whose name was Barabbas. So when the crowd gathered, Pilate said to them, ‘Which do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?’ For Pilate knew it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. Now as he was seated in the chair of judgement, his wife sent him a message, ‘Have nothing to do with that man; I have been upset all day by a dream I had about him’. The chief priests and the elders, however, had persuaded the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus. So when the governor spoke and asked them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release for you?’ they said, ‘Barabbas’. ‘But in that case,’ Pilate said to them ‘what am I to do with Jesus who is called
Christ?’ They all said, ‘Let him be crucified!’ ‘Why?’ he asked ‘What harm has he done?’ But they shouted all the louder, ‘Let him be crucified!’ Then Pilate saw that he was making no impression, that in fact a riot was imminent. So he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd and said, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your concern.’ And the people, to a man, shouted back, ‘His blood be on us and on our children!’ Then he released Barabbas for them. He ordered Jesus to be first scourged and then handed over to be crucified. The governor’s soldiers took Jesus with them into the Praetorium and collected the whole cohort round him. Then they stripped him and made him wear a scarlet cloak, and having twisted some thorns into a crown they put this on his head and placed a reed in his right hand. To make fun of him they knelt to him saying, ‘Hail, king of the Jews!’ And they spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head with it. And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the cloak and dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucify him. On their way out, they came across a man from Cyrene, Simon by name, and enlisted him to carry his cross. When they had reached a place called Golgotha, that is, the place of the skull, they gave him wine to drink mixed with gall, which he tasted but refused to drink. When they had finished crucifying him they shared out his clothing by casting lots, and then sat down and stayed there keeping guard over him. Above his head was placed the charge against him; it read: ‘This is Jesus, the King of the Jews’. At the same time two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left. The passers-by jeered at him; they shook their heads and said, ‘So you would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days! Then save yourself! If you are God’s son, come down from the cross!’ The chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him in the same way. ‘He saved others;’ they said ‘he cannot save himself. He is the king of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He puts his trust in God; now let God rescue him if he wants him. For he did say, “I am the son of God”.’ Even the robbers who were crucified with him taunted him in the same way. From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you deserted me?’ When some of those who stood there heard this, they said, ‘The man is calling on Elijah’, and one of them quickly ran to get a sponge which he dipped in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it him to drink. ‘Wait!’ said the rest of them ‘and see if Elijah will come to save him.’ But Jesus, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.
(All kneel and pause a moment.)
At that, the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked; the rocks were split; the tombs opened and the bodies of many holy men rose from the dead, and these, after his resurrection, came out of the tombs, entered the Holy City and appeared to a number of people. Meanwhile the centurion, together with the others guarding Jesus, had seen the earthquake and all that was taking place, and they were terrified and said: ‘In truth this was a son of God.’ And many women were there, watching from a distance, the same women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and looked after him. Among them were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. When it was evening, there came a rich man of Arimathea called Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate thereupon ordered it to be handed over. So Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean shroud and put it in his own new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a large stone across the entrance of the tomb and went away. Now Mary of Magdala and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the sepulchre. Next day, that is, when Preparation Day was over, the chief priests and the Pharisees went in a body to Pilate and said to him, ‘Your Excellency, we recall that this impostor said, while he was still alive, “After three days I shall rise again.” Therefore give the order to have the sepulchre kept secure until the third day, for fear his disciples come and steal him away and tell the people, “He has risen from the dead.” This last piece of fraud would be worse than what went before. Pilate said to them: You may have your guards. Go and make all as secure as you know how.’ So they went and made the sepulchre secure, putting seals on the stone and mounting a guard.
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