Gospel: April 13, 2025

April 13, 2025 (Sunday)

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

Psalter: Proper / (Red)

Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20,

23-24

My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

1st Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7

2nd Reading: Philippians

2:6-11

Gospel: Luke 22:14–23:56*

N: When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table and the apostles with him. And he said to them,

J: “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.”

N: Then they passed him a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said,

J: “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.”

N: Jesus also took bread, and after giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying,

J: “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

N: And after the supper, he did the same with the cup, saying,

J: “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!”

N: After this, Jesus left to go as usual to the Mount of Olives and the disciples followed him. When he came to the place, he told them,

J: “Pray that you may not be put to the test.”

N: Then he went a little further, about a stone’s throw and kneeling down, he prayed,

J: “Father, if it is your will, remove this cup from me; however, not my will but yours be done.”

N: And from heaven there appeared to him an angel who gave 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 sleep. And he said to them,

J: “Why do you sleep? Get up and pray, so that you may not be put to the test.”

N: Jesus was still speaking when suddenly a crowd 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,

J: “Judas, with a kiss you betray the Son of Man?”

J: “Are you looking for a thief, a robber? Do you really 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.”

N: 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 were gathered and Peter sat among them. A maidservant noticed him. Looking at him intently in the light of the fire, she exclaimed,

Woman 1: “This man also was with him!”

N: But he denied it, saying,

Peter: “Woman, I do not know him!”

N: A little later someone who saw him said,

Person 1: “You are also one of them!”

N: Peter replied,

Peter: “My friend, I am not!”

N: After about an hour another asserted,

Person 2: “Surely this man was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

N: Again Peter denied it:

Peter: “My friend, I don’t know what you are talking about!”

N: He had not finished saying this when a cock crowed. The Lord turned around and looked at Peter and Peter remembered the word which the Lord had spoken:

J: Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.”

N: Peter went outside, weeping bitterly. Now the guards who had arrested Jesus mocked and beat him. They blindfolded him, struck him and then asked him,

Guard: “Who hit you? Tell us, prophet!”

N: 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 teachers of the law, assembled again. Then they had Jesus brought before them and they began questioning him,

Chief priest: “Tell us, are you the Christ?”

N: Jesus replied,

J: “You will not believe if I tell you and neither will you answer if I ask you. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

N: In chorus, they asked,

Chief priest: “So you are the Son of God?”

N: And Jesus said to them,

J: “You are right, I am.”

N: Then they said,

Chief priest: “What need have we of witnesses? We have heard it from his own lips.”

N: The whole council rose and brought Jesus to Pilate. They gave their accusation:

Council: “We found this man subverting our nation, opposing payment of taxes to Caesar, and claiming to be Christ the King.”

N: Pilate asked Jesus,

Pilate: “Are you the King of the Jews?”

N: Jesus replied,

J: “You said so.”

N: Turning to the chief priests and the crowd, Pilate said,

Pilate: “I find no basis for a case against this man. I will, therefore, have him scourged and then release him.”

N: At Passover, Pilate had to release a prisoner. Shouting as one man, the crowd protested,

Person 1: “No! Away with this man! Release Barabbas instead!”

N: 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,

People: “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

N: A third time Pilate said to them,

Pilate: “Why, what evil has he done? Since no crime deserving death has been proved, I shall have him scourged and let him go.”

N: 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 handed Jesus over in accordance with their wishes. When they led Jesus away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, arriving from the countryside, and laid the cross on him to carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed him; among them were women beating their breasts and grieving for him.

N: Along with Jesus, two criminals also were led out to be executed. There, at the place called the Skull, he was crucified together with two criminals—one on his right and another on his left. Jesus said,

J: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

N: It was almost midday. The sun was hidden, and darkness came over the whole land until midafternoon, and at that time the curtain of the Sanctuary was torn in two. Then Jesus gave a loud cry,

J: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”

N: And saying that, he gave up his spirit.

Lectio Divina:

“The suffering servant”

Read: Christ, the Son of God strips himself of his divine glory to become one of us, that we might be saved. As suffering servant, he humbly submits to his accusers and executioners. He is faithful to his saving mission and to God his Father. Peter denies Jesus, in fear. Most of the crowd does not recognize their Savior, but some, like the repentant thief, do recognize Christ’s divinity, and ask his saving help.

Reflect: Today’s Palm Sunday liturgy combines the joy of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, amid cries of jubilation of the crowds, with the sorrow of the Passion, throughout which the crowds jeer at and mock the One who would save them all. Christ identified with Isaiah’s prophecy of the suffering servant, the one who does not shield his face from “blows, spittle or disgrace,” because he trusts in his loving Father, and he understands that the pouring out of his blood will forge the New Covenant between God and mankind.

Pray: Meditate with the palm leaves your received at church today and a crucifix. Think of your own faith and of its weaknesses. Pray the words of the repentant thief.

Act: Plan your week, so that you can participate as fully as you can in Holy Week, noting down times of prayer and of the liturgies at church.