Sunday, March 24, 2002
Passion (Palm) Sunday
1st Reading: Is 50:4-7
The Lord Yahweh has taught me so I speak as his disciple and I know how
to sustain the weary. Morning after morning he wakes me up to hear, to
listen like a disciple. The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear. I have not
rebelled, nor have I withdrawn. I offered my back to those who strike
me, my cheeks to those who pulled my beard; neither did I shield my face
from blows, spittle and disgrace. I have not despaired, for the Lord Yahweh
comes to my help. So, like a flint I set my face, knowing that I will
not be disgraced.
2nd Reading: Phil 2:6-11
Though being divine in nature, he did not claim in fact equality with
God, but emptied himself, taking on the nature of a servant, made in human
likeness, and in his appearance found as a man. He humbled himself by
being obedient to death, death on the cross. That is why God exalted him
and gave him the Name which outshines all names, so that at the Name of
Jesus all knees should bend in heaven, on earth and among the dead, and
all tongues proclaim that Christ Jesus is the Lord to the glory of God
the Father.
Gospel:
Mt 26:14-27:66 (or 27:11-54)
Jesus stood before the governor who questioned him, "Are you the
King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "You say so." The chief
priests and the Elders accused him, but he made no answer. Pilate said
to him, "Do you hear all the charges they bring against you?"
But he did not answer even a single question, so that the governor wondered.
It was customary for the governor to release any prisoner the people asked
for on the occasion of the Passover. Now there was a well-known prisoner
called Barabbas. As the people had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Whom
do you want me to set free: Barabbas, or Jesus called the Messiah?"
For he realized that Jesus had been handed over to him out of envy.
As Pilate was sitting in court, his wife sent him this message, "Have
nothing to do with that holy man. Because of him I had a dream last night
that disturbed me greatly."
But the chief priests and the Elders stirred the crowds to ask for the
release of Barabbas and the death of Jesus. When the governor asked them
again, "Which of the two do you want me to set free?" they answered,
"Barabbas." Pilate said to them, "And what shall I do with
Jesus called the Messiah?" All answered, "Crucify him!"
Pilate insisted, "What evil has he done?" But they shouted louder,
"Crucify him!"
Pilate realized that he was getting nowhere and that instead there could
be a riot. He then asked for water and washed his hands before the people,
saying, "I am not responsible for his blood. It is your doing."
And all the people answered, "Let his blood be upon us and upon our
children."
Then Pilate set Barabbas free, but had Jesus scourged, and handed him
over to be crucified.
The Roman soldiers took Jesus into the palace of the governor and the
whole troop gathered around him. They stripped him and dressed him in
a purple military cloak. Then, twisting a crown of thorns, they forced
it onto his head, and placed a reed in his right hand. They knelt before
Jesus and mocked him, saying, "Long life to the King of the Jews!"
They spat on him, took the reed from his hand and struck him on the head
with it.
When they had finished mocking him, they pulled off the purple cloak and
dressed him in his own clothes again, and led him out to be crucified.
On the way they met a man from Cyrene called Simon, and forced him to
carry the cross of Jesus. When they reached the place called Golgotha
(or Calvary) which means the Skull, they offered him wine mixed with gall.
Jesus tasted it but would not take it.
There they crucified him and divided his clothes among themselves, casting
lots to decide what each should take. Then they sat down to guard him.
The statement of his offense was displayed above his head and it read,
"This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." They also crucified two
bandits with him, one on his right and one on his left.
People passing by shook their heads and insulted him, saying, "Aha!
So you will destroy the Temple and build it up again in three days. Now
save yourself and come down from the cross, if you are Son of God."
In the same way the chief priests, the Elders and the teachers of the
Law mocked him. They said, "The man who saved others cannot save
himself. Let the King of Israel now come down from his cross and we will
believe in him. He trusted in God; let God rescue him if God wants to,
since he himself said: I am the Son of God." Even the robbers who
were crucified with him insulted him.
From midday darkness fell over the whole land until mid-afternoon. At
about three o'clock, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi,
lamma Sabbacthani?" which means: My God, my God, why have you forsaken
me? As soon as they heard this, some of the bystanders said, "He
is calling for Elijah." And one of them went quickly, took a sponge
and soaked it in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave him to drink.
Others said, "Leave him alone, let us see whether Elijah comes to
his rescue." Then Jesus cried out again in a loud voice and gave
up his spirit.
Just then the curtain of the Temple sanctuary was torn in two from top
to bottom, the earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and
several holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of
the tombs after the resurrection of Jesus, entered the Holy City and appeared
to many.
The captain and the soldiers who guarded Jesus were greatly terrified
when they saw the earthquake and all that had happened, and said, "Truly,
this man was a Son of God."
Commentary
Handed over to foreigners for execution,
You heard your own people screaming for your blood.
Dying a slave's death, alone in dreadful agony,
Harsh voices mocked and taunted you.
You came to give life, and were given death.
Your heart filled with love, you met envy and hostility.
You bore all this without self-pity, bitterness or hatred?
You emptied yourself humbly, willingly?
WHY?
"To draw you from your darkness, I probe its depths.
To reveal my heart, I go where yours could never go,
But now may dare, perhaps…"