May 14, 2023 - 6th Sunday of Easter (Year A)

 

First Reading - Acts 8:5-8.14-17

    Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.

    With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed or crippled people were cured. There was great joy in that city.

    Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who went down and prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit, for it had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

    Then they laid hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 66

R –Let all the earth cry out to God with joy!

* Shout joyfully to God, all the earth, sing praise to the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise. Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!” R.

* “Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you, sing praise to your name!” Come and see the works of God, his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam. R.

* He has changed the sea into dry land; through the river they passed on foot; there- fore let us rejoice in him. He rules by his might forever. R.

* Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare what he has done for me. Blessed be God who refused me not my prayer or his kindness! R.

Second Reading - 1 Pt 3:15-18

    Beloved: Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for do- ing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil.

    For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the Spirit.

Gospel Acclamation - Jn 14:23

Alleluia! Alleluia! 
“Whoever loves me will keep my word,” says the Lord, “and my Father will love him and we will come to him.”
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Jn 14:15-21

    Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always – the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, because he remains with you, and will be in you.

    I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father and you are in me and I in you.

    Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.”

May 7, 2023 - 5th Sunday of Easter (Year A)

 

First Reading - Acts 6:1-7

    As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.

    So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Juda- ism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them.

    The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 33

R - Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you!

* Exult, you just, in the Lord; praise from the upright is fitting. Give thanks to the Lord on the harp; with the ten- stringed lyre chant his praises. R.

* Upright is the word of the Lord, and all his works are trustworthy. He loves justice and right; of the kindness of the Lord the earth is full. R.

* See, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, to deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine. R.

Second Reading - 1 Pt 2:4-9 

    Beloved:

    Come to him, a living stone, rejected by human be- ings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it says in Scripture:

    “Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and who- ever believes in it shall not be put to shame.”

    Therefore, its value is for you who have faith, but for those without faith:

    “The stone that the builders rejected has become the corner- stone,” and “A stone that will make people stumble, and a rock that will make them fall.”

    They stumble by disobeying the word, as is their des- tiny. You are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of dark- ness into his wonderful light.

Gospel Acclamation - Jn 14:6

Alleluia! Alleluia!
I am the way, the truth, and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father, except through me. 
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Jn 14:1-12

    Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going, you know the way.”

    Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

    Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own.The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.”

April 30, 2023 - Fourth Sunday of Easter (Year A)

 

First Reading - Acts 2:14.36-41

    Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: “Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?”

    Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever theLord our God will call.” He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”

    Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 23

R –The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want!

* The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. R.

* He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk in the dark val- ley I fear no evil, for you are at my side. With your rod and your staff that give me courage. R.

* You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. R.

* Only goodness and kind- ness follow me all the days of my life. And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. R

Second Reading - 1 Pt 2:20-25

    Beloved:

    If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps.

    He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten. Instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

    For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Gospel Acclamation - Jn 10:14

Alleluia! Alleluia!
“I am the Good Shepherd,” says the Lord; “I know my sheep, and mine know me.”
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Jn 10:1-10

    Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as the shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not fol- low a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.”

    Although Jesus used this figure of speech, the Pharisees did not realize what he was trying to tell them.

    So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.

    A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

April 23, 2023 - Third Sunday of Easter (Year A)

 

First Reading - Acts 2:14.22-33

    Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed: “You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you, and listen to my words. You who are Israelites, hear these words. Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs, which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God, you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.

    But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it. For David says of him: ‘I saw the Lord ever before me, with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted; my flesh, too, will dwell in hope, because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’

    Brothers, one can confi- dently say to you about the pa- triarch David that he died and was buried, and his tomb is in our midst to this day. But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne, he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld nor did his flesh see corruption.

God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses. Exalted at the right hand of God, he received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father and poured him forth, as you see and hear.”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 16

R – Lord, you will show us the path of life!

* Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge; I say to the Lord, “My Lord are you.” O Lord, my allotted portion and my cup, you it is who hold fast my lot. R.

* I bless the Lord who coun- sels me; even in the night my heart exhorts me. I set the Lord ever before me; with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. R.

* Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices; my body, too, abides in confidence, be- cause you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption. R.

* You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. R

Second Reading - 1 Pt 1:17-21

    Beloved: If you invoke as Father him who judges impar- tially according to each one’s works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning.

    Realize that you were ran- somed from your futile con- duct, handed on by your ances- tors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished lamb.

    He was known before the foundation of the world but revealed in the final time for you, who through him believe in God who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

Gospel Acclamation - Lk 24:32

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Lord Jesus, open the Scriptures to us; make our hearts burn while you speak to us.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Lk 24:13-35

    That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred.

    And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?”

    And he replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed him over to a sentence of death and crucified him. But we were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that he was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but him they did not see.”

    And he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures.

    As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him: “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that, their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.

    Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?” So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of bread.

April 16, 2023 - Second Sunday of Easter - Feast of Christ, King of Divine Mercy (Year A)

 

First Reading - Acts 2:42-47

    They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

    All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes.

    They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoy- ing favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 118

R – Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love is everlasting!

*    Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His mercy endures for- ever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His mercy endures forever.” R.

* I was hard pressed and was falling, but the Lord helped me. My strength and my courage is the Lord, and he has been my savior. The joyful shout of victory in the tents of the just. R.

* The stone which the build- ers rejected has become the cornerstone. By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. R

Second Reading - 1 Pt 1:3-9

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is                   imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you who by the power of God are safeguarded through faith, to a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the final time.

In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Although you have not seen him, you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and gl rious joy, as you attain the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Gospel Acclamation - Jn 20:29

Alleluia! Alleluia!

You believe in me, Thomas, because you have seen me, says the Lord; 

blessed are they who have not seen me, but still believe! 

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel - Jn 20:19-31

    On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The dis- ciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so Isend you.”

    And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

    Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

    Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

    Now, Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

April 9, 2023 - Easter Sunday (Years A, B and C)

 

 

First Reading - Acts 10:34.37-43

    Peter proceeded to speak and said: “You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did, both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. Peter proceeded to speak and said: “You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did, both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. 

     This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be seen, not by all the people, but by us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 

     He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 118 

R –This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad!

* Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever. Let the house of Israel say, “His mercy endures forever.” R. 

* The right hand of the Lord has struck with power; the right hand of the Lord is exalted. I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord. R. 

* The stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. By the Lord has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes. R. 

Second Reading - Col 3:1-4

    Brothers and sisters: 

    If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. 

    For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, your life, appears, then you, too, will appear with him in glory.

 

Sequence 

C –With the ancient poet, let us proclaim the joy of Mary Magdalene at Jesus’ resurrection. 

All - Christians, to the Paschal Victim offer your thankful praises! A Lamb the sheep redeems: Christ, who only is sinless, reconciles sinners to the Father. 

    Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous: the Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal. 

    Speak, Mary, declaring what you saw, wayfaring. “The tomb of Christ, who is living, the glory of Jesus’ resurrection; bright angels attesting, the shroud and napkin resting. Yes, Christ my hope is arisen: to Galilee he goes before you.” 

    Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining. Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning! Amen! Alleluia! 

Gospel Acclamation - 1 Cor 5:7-8 

Alleluia! Alleluia! 

 Christ, our Paschal Lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us then feast with joy in the Lord. 

 Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel - Jn 20:1-9

    On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” 

    So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first. He bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple, who had arrived at the tomb first, also went in. He saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead. 

April 2, 2023 - PALM SUNDAY / ALAY KAPWA SUNDAY (Year A)

Part 1: COMMEMORATION OF THE LORD'S ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM

Opening Antiphon

Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel. Hosanna in the highest.

Gospel - Mt 21:1-11

    When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them here to me. And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, "The master has need of them. Then he will send them at once." 

    This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: “Say to daughter Zion, ‘Behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ”

    The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them. They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them, and he sat upon them.

    The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest."

    And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, "Who is this?" And the crowds replied,  "This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee."

Part 2: THE MASS

First Reading - Is 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 them.

    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 cheeks to hose 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.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 22

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 de- liver him, let him rescue him, if He loves him.” R.

* 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.

* They divide my garments among them, and for my ves- ture they cast lots. But you, O Lord, be not far from me; O my help, hasten to aid me! R.

* 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 descendants of Jacob, give glory to him; revere him, all you descendants of Israel!” R.

Second Reading - Phil 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 hum- bled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

    Because of this, God greatly exalted him and be- stowed 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 ev- ery tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Verse before the Gospel

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!

Christ became 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. 

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory!

Gospel - Mt 27:11-54

Characters: J: Jesus; N1: First Narrator; N2: Second Narrator; P: Pilate; C: Crowd, Chief priests, others

P – The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew

N1 - Jesus stood before the governor, Pontius Pilate, who questioned him,

P - "Are you the king of the Jews?"

[N2 –Jesus said,]
J - “You say so.”
N1 - And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him,
P -  'Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?"
N2  - But he did not answer him one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was accus- tomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them,

P - "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?"
N1 - For he knew that it was out of envy that they had handed him over. While he was still seated on the bench, his wife sent him a message,
C - "Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because of him."
N2  - The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to destroy Jesus. The governor said to them in reply,
P - "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?"
[N1 They answered,]
C - "Barabbas!"
[N1 - Pilate said to them,]
P - "Then what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?"
[N1 - They all said,]
C - "Let him be crucified!"
[N1 - But he said,]

P - "Why? What evil has he done?"
[N1 - They only shouted the loud-er,]

C - "Let him be crucified!"
N2  - When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying,
P - "I am innocent of this man's blood. Look to it yourselves."

N1 - And the whole people said in reply,
C -  "His blood be upon us and upon our children."
N2  - Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.
N1  - Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying,
C - "Hail, King of the Jews!"

 N2  - They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucify him.

N1 - As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon. This man they pressed into service to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha which means “Place of the Skull” , they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall. But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink.
N2 - After they had crucified him, they divided his garments by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And they placed over his head the written charge against him: "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews."

 N1 - Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left. 

N2  - Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, 

C - "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down from the cross!"

N1 - Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said,

C - "He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'

 N2 - The revolutionaries who were crucified with him also kept abusing him in the same way. 

N1 - From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice,

J - “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”
N2 -  which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Some of the bystanders who heard it said,

C - "This one is calling for Elijah."
N1 - Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge; he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed, gave it to him to drink. But the rest said, 

C - "Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him."

N2  - But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit.

(Kneel down in silent prayer.)

N1 – And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and ap- peared to many.

N2 –The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, 

C - "Truly, this was the Son of God!"