Today's Gospel (Lk 22,14—23,56): When the hour came, Jesus
took his place at table and the apostles with him. And he said to
them, «I was eager to eat this Passover with you before I
suffer; for, I tell you, I shall not eat it again until it is
fulfilled in the kingdom of God». Then they passed him a cup
and when He had given thanks he said, «Take this and share it
among yourselves: for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of
the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes».
Jesus
also took bread, and after giving thanks, He broke it and gave it to
them saying, «This is my body which is given for you. Do this
in remembrance of me». And He did the same with the cup after
eating, «This cup is the new covenant, sealed in my blood which
is poured out for you. Yet the hand of the traitor is with me on the
table. Know that the Son of Man is going the way marked out for him.
But alas for that one who betrays him!».
They
began to ask one another which of them could do such a thing. They
also began to argue among themselves which of them should be
considered the most important. And Jesus said, «The kings of
the pagan nations rule over them as lords, and the most hard-hearted
rulers claim the title, ‘Gracious Lord’. But not so with
you; let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the
leader as the servant. For who is the greatest, he who sits at the
table or he who serves? He who is seated, isn't it? Yet I am among
you as the one who serves. You are the ones who have been with me and
stood by me through my troubles; because of this, just as the
kingship has been given to me by my Father, so I give it to you. You
will eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on
thrones and govern the twelve tribes of Israel.
»Simon,
Simon, Satan has demanded to sift you like grain, but I have prayed
for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have recovered you
shall strengthen your brothers». Then Peter said, «Lord,
with you I am ready to go even to prison and death». But Jesus
replied, «I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day
before you have denied three times that you know me».
Jesus
also said to them, «When I sent you without purse or bag or
sandals, were you short of anything?». They answered, «No».
And Jesus said to them, «But now, the one who has a purse must
take it, and a bag as well. And if anyone is without a sword, let him
sell his cloak to buy one. For Scriptures says: ‘He was
numbered among criminals’. These words had to be fulfilled in
me, and now everything written about me is taking place. Then they
said, «See, Lord, here are two swords», but he answered,
«That is enough».
After
this Jesus left to go as usual to Mount Olives and the disciples
followed him. When He came to the place, He told them, «Pray
that you may not be put to the test». Then He went a little
further, about a stone's throw, and kneeling down He prayed, «Father,
if it is your will, remove this cup from me; still not my will but
yours be done». And an angel from heaven appeared to give him
strength. As He was in agony, He prayed even more earnestly and great
drops of blood formed like sweat and fell to the ground. When He rose
from prayer, He went to his disciples but found them worn out with
grief, and asleep. And He said to them, «Why do you sleep? Get
up and pray, so that you may not be put to the test».
Jesus
was still speaking when a group appeared and the man named Judas, one
of the Twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him,
and Jesus said to him, «Did you need this kiss to betray the
Son of Man?». Those with Jesus seeing what would happen, said
to him, «Master, shall we use the sword?». And one of
them struck the High Priest's servant and cut off his right ear. But
Jesus stopped him, «No more of this». He touched the
man's ear and healed him. Then Jesus spoke to those coming against
him, the chief priests, officers of the Temple and elders and he said
to them, «Did you really set out against a robber? Do you need
swords and clubs to arrest me? Day after day I was among you teaching
in the Temple and you did not arrest me. But this is the hour of the
power of darkness; this is your hour».
Then
they seized him and took him away, bringing him to the High Priest's
house. Peter followed at a distance. A fire was kindled in the middle
of the courtyard where people gathered, and Peter sat among them. A
maidservant noticed him. Looking at him intently in the light of the
fire, she exclaimed, «This man also was with him!». But
he denied it, saying, «Woman, I do not know him». A
little later someone who saw him said, «You are also one of
them!». Peter replied, «My friend, I am not!».
After about an hour another asserted, «Surely this man was with
him, for he is a Galilean». Again Peter denied, «My
friend, I don't know what you are talking about». He had not
finished saying this when a cock crowed. The Lord turned around and
looked at Peter and he remembered the word that the Lord had spoken,
«Before the cock crows today you will have denied me three
times». Peter went outside, weeping bitterly.
Meanwhile
the guards were mocking and beating Jesus. They blindfolded him,
struck him and then asked, «Who hit you? Tell us, prophet».
And they hurled many other insulting words at him.
At
daybreak, the council of the elders of the people, among whom were
the chief priests and the scribes, assembled again. Then they had
Jesus brought before them, and they began questioning him: «Tell
us, are you the Christ?». Jesus replied, «You will not
believe if I tell you, and neither will you answer if I ask you. Yet
from now on the Son of Man will have his seat at the right hand of
the Mighty God». In chorus they asked, «So you are the
Son of God?». And Jesus said to them, «You are right, I
am». Then they said, «What need have we of witnesses? We
have heard it from his own lips».
The
whole council rose and brought Jesus to Pilate. They gave their
accusation: «We found this man subverting our nation, opposing
payment of taxes to Caesar, and claiming to be Christ the king».
Pilate asked Jesus, «Are you the King of the Jews?».
Jesus replied, «You said so». Turning to the chief
priests and the crowd, Pilate said, «I find no basis for a case
against this man». But they insisted, «All the country of
the Jews is being stirred up with his teaching. He began in Galilee
and now He has come all the way here». When Pilate heard this,
he asked if the man was a Galilean. Finding the accused to come under
Herod's jurisdiction, Pilate sent Jesus over to Herod who happened to
be in Jerusalem at that time.
Herod
was delighted to have Jesus before him now; for a long time he had
wanted to see him because of the reports about him, and he was hoping
to see Jesus work some miracle. He piled up question upon question,
but got no reply from Jesus. All the while the chief priests and the
scribes remained standing there, vehemently pressing their
accusations. Finally, Herod ridiculed him and with his guards mocked
him. And when he had put a rich cloak on him, he sent him back to
Pilate. Pilate and Herod who were enemies before, became friends from
that day.
Pilate
then called together the chief priests and the elders before all the
people, and said to them, «You have brought this man before me
and accused him of subversion. In your presence I have examined him
and found no basis for your charges. And neither has Herod, for he
sent him back to me. It is quite clear that this man has done nothing
that deserves a death sentence. I will therefore have him scourged
and then release him». On the Passover Pilate had to release a
prisoner. Howling as one man, they protested: «No! Away with
this man! Release Barabbas instead». This man had been thrown
into prison for an uprising in the city and for murder. Since Pilate
wanted to release Jesus, he appealed to the crowd once more, but they
shouted back, «To the cross with him! To the cross!». A
third time Pilate said to them, «Why, what evil has he done?
Since no crime deserving death has been proved, I shall have him
scourged and let him go». But they went on shouting and
demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their shouts grew louder. So
Pilate decided to pass the sentence they demanded. He released the
man they asked for, the one who was in prison for rebellion and
murder, and he delivered Jesus in accordance with their wishes.
When
they led Jesus away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in
from the fields, and laid the cross on him, to carry it behind Jesus.
A large crowd of people followed him; among them were women beating
their breast and wailing for him, but Jesus turned to them and said,
«Women of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, weep rather for
yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when people
will say: ‘Happy are the women without child! Happy are those
who have not given birth or nursed a child!’. And they will say
to the mountains: ‘Fall on us!’. And to the hills: ‘Cover
us!’. For if this is the lot of the green wood, what will
happen to the dry?».
Along
with Jesus, two criminals also were led out to be executed. There at
the place called “The Skull” He was crucified together
with the criminals, one on his right and another on his left. Jesus
said, «Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do».
And the guards cast lots to divide his clothes among themselves. The
people stood by watching. As for the rulers, they jeered at him,
saying to one another, «Let the man who saved others now save
himself, for he is the Messiah, the chosen one of God!». The
soldiers also mocked him and when they drew near to offer him bitter
wine, they said, «So you are the king of the Jews? Free
yourself!». For above him was an inscription which read, «This
is the King of the Jews».
One
of the criminals hanging with Jesus insulted him, «So you are
the Messiah? Save yourself and us as well!». But the other
rebuked him, saying, «Have you no fear of God, you who received
the same sentence as He did? For us it is just: this is payment for
what we have done. But this man has done nothing wrong». And he
said, «Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom».
Jesus replied, «Truly, you will be with me today in paradise».
It
was now about noon. The sun was hidden and darkness came over the
whole land until mid-afternoon; and at that time the curtain of the
Sanctuary was torn in two. Then Jesus gave a loud cry, «Father,
into your hands I commend my spirit». And saying that, He gave
up his spirit.
The
captain on seeing what had happened, acknowledged the hand of God. He
said, «Surely this was an upright man». And all the
people who had gathered to watch the spectacle, as soon as they saw
what had happened went home beating their breasts. Only those who
knew Jesus stood at a distance, especially the women who had followed
him from Galilee; they witnessed all this.
Then
intervened a member of the Jewish supreme council, a good and
righteous man named Joseph from the Judean town of Arimathea. He had
not agreed with the decision and action of his fellow members, for he
lived uprightly in the hope of seeing the kingdom of God. He went to
Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. He then took it down, wrapped it in
a linen cloth and laid it in a yet unused tomb cut out of a rock. It
was Preparation Day and the star which marks the beginning of the
Sabbath was shining. So the women who had come with Jesus from
Galilee followed Joseph to see the tomb and how his body was being
placed. And returning home, they prepared perfumes and ointments.
