Narrator:
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said,Jesus: “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you that from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
Palm Sunday of the Passion
of the Lord
A Homily - Cycle C -
2012-2013
by Rev. Luke Dundon
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Gospel before Mass - Luke 19:28-40
First Reading - Isaiah 50:4-7
Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
Second Reading - Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel - Luke 22:14-23:56
Luke wrote to explain that
Christ came to save everyone.
Narrator: The
Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. When the hour came,
Jesus took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them,
Jesus: “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before
I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment
in the kingdom of God.”
Narrator:
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said,
Jesus: “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you that
from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom
of God comes.”
Narrator: Then he took
the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying,
Jesus: “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in
memory of me.”
Narrator: And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying,
Jesus: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed
for you. “And yet behold, the hand of the one who is to betray me is with me on
the table; for the Son of Man indeed goes as it has been determined; but woe to
that man by whom he is betrayed.”
Narrator: And they began to debate among themselves who among them
would do such a deed. Than an argument broke out among them about which of
them should be regarded as the greatest. He said to them,
Jesus: “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them and those in
authority over them are addressed as ‘Benefactors’; but among you it shall not
be so. Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as
the servant. For who is greater: the one seated at table or the one who
serves? Is it not the one seated at table? I am among you as the one who
serves. It is you who have stood by me in my trails; and I confer a kingdom on
you, just as my Father has conferred one on me, that you may eat and drink at my
table in my kingdom; and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of
Israel. “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like
wheat, but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail; and once you have
turned back, you must strengthen your brothers.”
Narrator: He said to him,
Speaker: “Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you.”
Narrator: But he replied,
Jesus: “I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day, you
will deny three times that you know me.”
Narrator: He said to
them,
Jesus: “When I sent you forth without a money
bag or a sack or sandals, were you in need of anything?”
Chorus: “No, nothing,”
Narrator: They replied. He said to them,
Jesus: “But now one who has a money bag should
take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his
cloak and buy one. For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me,
namely, He was counted among the wicked: and indeed what is written about me is
coming to fulfillment.”
Narrator: Then
they said,
Chorus: “Lord, look, there are two swords here.”
Narrator: But he replied,
Jesus: “It is enough!”
Narrator:
Then going out, he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the
disciples followed him. When he arrived at the place he said to them,
Jesus: “Pray that you may not undergo the test.”
Narrator: After withdrawing, about a stone’s throw from them
and kneeling, he prayed, saying,
Jesus: Father, if you are willing, take this cup way from me;
still, not my will be yours be done.”
Narrator: And to
strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him. He was in such agony and
he prayed so fervently that his sweat became like drops of blood falling on the
ground. When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples, he found them
sleeping from grief. He said to them,
Jesus: “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you may not
undergo the test.”
Narrator: While he was still speaking, a crowd approached and in front
was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas. He went up to Jesus to kiss him.
Jesus said to him,
Jesus: “Judas, are you betraying the son of Man with
a kiss?”
Narrator: His disciples
realized what was about to happen, and they asked,
Chorus: Lord, shall we strike with a sword?”
Narrator: And one of them struck the high priest’s servant and cut off
his right ear. But Jesus said in reply,
Jesus: “Stop, no more of this!”
Narrator: Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him. And Jesus
said to the chief priests and temple guards and elders who had come for him,
Jesus: “Have you come out as against a robber, with
swords and clubs? Day after day I was with you in the temple area, and you did
not seize me; but this is your hour, the time for the power of darkness.”
Narrator: After arresting him they led him away and took him into the
house of the high priest; Peter was following at a distance. They lit a fire in
the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter sat down with them.
When a maid saw him seated in the light, she looked intently at him and said,
Chorus: “This man too was with him.”
Narrator: But he denied it saying,
Speaker “Woman, I do not know him.”
Narrator: A short while later someone else saw him and said,
Chorus: You too are one of them”;
Narrator: But Peter answered,
Speaker: “My friend, I am not.”
Narrator: About an hour later, still another insisted,
Chorus: “Assuredly, this man too was with him, for he also is a
Galilean.”
Narrator: But Peter
said,
Speaker: “My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.”
Narrator: Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed, and the Lord
turned and looked at Peter; and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he
had said to him, “Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.”
He went out and began to weep bitterly. The men who held Jesus in custody were
ridiculing and beating him. They blindfolded him and questioned him, saying,
Chorus: “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?”
Narrator: And they reviled him in saying many other things against him.
When day came the council of elders of the people met, both chief priests and
scribes, and they brought him before their Sanhedrin. They said,
Chorus: If you are the Christ, tell us,”
Narrator: But he replied to them,
Jesus: “If I tell you, you will not believe,
and if I question, you will not respond. But from this time on the Son of Man
will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”
Narrator: They all
asked,
Chorus: “Are you then the Son of God/”
Narrator: He replied to them,
Jesus: “You say that I am.”
Narrator: Then they said,
Chorus: “What further need have we for testimony? We have heard it
from his own mouth.”
Narrator:
Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought him before Pilate. They
brought charges against him, saying,
Chorus: “We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the
payment of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Christ, a king.”
Narrator: Pilate asked him,
Speaker: “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Narrator: He said to him in reply,
Jesus: “You say so.”
Narrator: Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds,
Speaker: “I find this man not guilty.”
Narrator: But they were adamant and said,
Chorus: “He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all
Judea, from Galilee where he began even to here.”
Narrator: On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean; and
upon learning that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod who
was in Jerusalem at that time. Herod was very glad to see Jesus; he had been
wanting to see him for a long time, for he had heard about him and had been
hoping to see him perform some sign. He questioned him at length, but he gave
him no answer. The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile, stood by accusing him
harshly. Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him, and
after clothing him in resplendent garb, he sent him back to Pilate. Herod and
Pilate became friends that very day, even though they had been enemies
formerly. Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people
and said to them,
Speaker: “You brought this man to me and accused him of inciting the people to revolt. I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him, nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us. So no capital crime has been committed by him. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.”
Narrator: But all
together they shouted out,
Chorus: “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us.”
Narrator: Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion that had
taken place in the city and for murder. – Again Pilate addressed them, still
wishing to release Jesus, but they continued their shouting,
Chorus: “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
Narrator: Pilate addressed them a third time,
Speaker: “What evil has this man done? I found him guilty of no
capital crime. Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him”
Narrator: With
loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their
voices prevailed. The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be
granted. So he released the man who had been imprisoned for rebellion and
murder, for whom they asked, and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as
they wished.
As they led him away they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was
coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him
carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of people followed Jesus, including many
women who mourned and lamented him. Jesus turned to them and said,
Jesus: “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep
for me; weep instead for yourselves and for your children, for indeed, the days
are coming when people will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, the wombs that never
bore and the breasts that never nursed.’ At that time people will say to the
mountains, ‘Fall upon us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us!” for if these things are
done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?”
Narrator
Now two others, both criminals, were led away with him to be executed. When
they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals
there, one on his right, the other on his left. Then Jesus said,
Jesus: “Father, forgive them, they
know not what they do.”
Narrator: They
divided his garments by casting lots. The people stood by and watched; the
rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said,
Chorus: “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen
one, the Christ of God.”
Narrator: Even the
soldiers jeered at him. As they approached to offer him wine they called out,
Chorus: “If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.”
Narrator: Above him
there was an inscription that read, “This is the King of the Jews.” Now one of
the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
Speaker: “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.”
Narrator: The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,
Speaker: “Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same
condemnation? And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we
received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal.”
Narrator: Then he
said,
Speaker: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Narrator: He replied to him,
Jesus: “Amen, I say to you, today you
will be with me in Paradise.”
Narrator: It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land
until three in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun. Then the veil of
the temple was torn down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
Jesus: “Father, into your hands I
commend my spirit”;
Narrator: And
when he had said this he breathed his last.
Here all kneel and pause for a short time.
Narrator: The
centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said,
Speaker: “This man was innocent beyond doubt.”
Narrator: When
all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they
returned home beating their breasts; but all his acquaintances stood at a
distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw these
events.
Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who, though he was a member of the council, had not consented to their plan of action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea and was awaiting the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. After he had taken the body down, he wrapped it in linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried. It was the day of preparation, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come from Galilee with him followed behind, and when they had seen the tomb and the way in which his body was laid in it, they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils. Then they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.
Well as they say in Jerusalem . . . what just happened? He started out as a KING! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! And now he’s hanging on a cross. What just happened?
What just happened, was the greatest story ever told. And it’s interesting to see all the characters. Pontius Pilate, Herod, Judas, Peter, the Faithful Women, the Roman Soldiers, Simon of Cyrene, the two thieves, Jesus. If you could be one of them, which one would you be?
We see Simon of Cyrene . . . he was roped into this without knowing what was going on. Who was this Jesus anyway? But then, if you’ve seen the Passion of the Christ, you get a good idea at how much Simon must have been affected in carrying the cross with Jesus . . . if only he had more time to get to know him! Or Peter, who HAD a lot time to know Jesus, but has now denied Jesus three times! Way to blow it at the last minute! If only there was a way; to take it back, if only he had a little bit more time. Or even Joseph of Arimithea and Nicodemus, two hidden followers – they didn’t make it to Jesus’side until He was already dead! And yet we know that Simon’s sons are mentioned as disciples in the Acts of the Apostles. Joseph and Nicodemus became disciples as well, and Peter, well – he would soon remind our Lord that he loves Him!
But the story I love best of all, is the one of the good thief. Straight forward, simple and to the point. Jesus, REMEMBER ME when you come into your Kingdom. Impeccable timing, as this thief didn’t have much more time! And how does our Lord respond? Irony of irony, it’s to the condemned criminal that Jesus promises SAINTHOOD then and there – Amen, I say to you, TODAY you will be with me in Paradise!
The characters who had such little time to be with the Lord, so little time to reconcile with the Lord, and yet they took what little time they had, and said, JESUS, I’m sorry. JESUS, remember me. JESUS, you’ve died – but I’m here for you. Yeah, there are only a few days left of this Holy Season. Only a little bit of time left. Confessions’ available each day this week. And so, we have JUST the amount of time He needs to make saints of us. For He’s the Lord who REMEMBERS. The Catechism says that Jesus knew and loved EACH of us when He offered His life. Thank GOD for all His second-chance and last-chance saints, for they are now, SAINTS! They are now in Heaven. Dear Jesus, REMEMBERS ME, REMEMBER US, when you come into your kingdom.