＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 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 I have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn.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.

 

Ps 22:8-9,17-18,19-20,23-24

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

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Philippians 2: 6-11

Though he was in the form of God, he did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, 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 ＊＊＊＊

Matthew 26: 14 – 27:66

Then one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “How much will you give me if I hand him over to you?” They promised to give him thirty pieces of silver; and from then on, he kept looking for the best way to hand Jesus over to them.

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said to him, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?” Jesus answered, “Go into the city, to the house of a certain man, and tell him, ‘ The Master says: My hour is near, and I will celebrate the Passover with my disciples in your.’” The disciples did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover meal.

When it was evening, Jesus sat at table with the Twelve. While they were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you: one of you will betray me.” They were deeply distressed, and they asked him, one after the other, “You do not mean me, do you, Lord?”

He answered, “The one who dips his bread with me will betray me. (….) While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said a blessing and broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying, “Take and eat: this is my body.” Then he took cup, and gave thanks, and passed it to them, saying, “Drink this, all of you, for this is my blood, the blood of the Covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

Yes, I say to you: From now on I will not taste the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink new wine with you in my Father’s kingdom.” After singing psalms of praise, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, “You will falter tonight because of me, and all of you will fall. (……)

“Father, if this cup cannot be taken away from me without my drinking it, your will must be done.” When he came back to his disciples, he, again, found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open.

So leaving them again, Jesus went to pray for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came back to his disciples and said to them, “You can sleep on now and take your rest! The hour has come, and the Son of Man will be handed over to sinners.

Get up, let us go! See, the betrayer is here!” Jesus was still speaking when Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, who had been sent by the chief priests and the elders of the people.

The traitor had given them a sign: “The one I kiss, he is the man; arrest him!” Judas went directly to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they laid hands on Jesus, and arrested him. (…) Then all his disciples deserted Jesus and fled.

Those who had arrested Jesus took him to the house of the high Priest Caiaphas, where the teachers of the law and the elders were assembled. (….) Meanwhile, as Peter sat outside in the courtyard, a young servant-girl said to him, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”

But he denied it before everyone, saying,” I do not know what you are talking about.” (….) After a little while, those who were standing there approached Peter and said to him, “Surely you are one of the Galileans: your accent gives you away.” Peter began to justify himself with curses and oaths, protesting that he did not know Jesus.

Just then, a cook crowed. And Peter remembered the words of Jesus, “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And going out, he wept bitterly. (….)

 

Gospel Reflection：

Read:

The readings on this ‘’’’’’Sunday that ushers in the most sacred time in the life of the church, give us the image of a king so humble he rides on the back of an animal no king would regard as fit to ride, a savior so lowly he willingly lets those he has come to redeem from suffering and pain to inflict pain and suffering on himself, a God so full of love for his people he empties himself and become one with those he wishes to save. Could there be any greater love than this? Could there be any greater manifestation of care? The narrative of the Lord’s Passion is the greatest testament to the story of God’s love for us, and it’s a story that continues to our time.

Reflect:

Could there possibly be a line in Scripture more beautiful than those that tell us “God is love”? (1John 4:8) On this day, and all throughout this most sacred of weeks, the profound truth contained in this line will not only be made manifest, it will give up its very life in order that death may not claim us; because it is his desire to claim us for himself. The almighty and all-powerful God enters into our very story this week in a way that breaks every barrier that stands between ourselves and His love.

 Pray:

Lord, you humbled yourself and took the punishment that was rightly ours, if only to make manifest once and for all, the Father’s love. Make us grateful for such awesome a gift, and may our gratitude be made manifest in our willingness to lay down our lives for others, most especially those in need.

Act:

Go an do something to ease the suffering of someone who needs your help. Do so out of love for Jesus.