GOSPEL

From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 22:14 – 23:56)

(Instructions for the dialogued reading: ✠ = Jesus; C = Narrator; D = Disciples and friends; F = Crowd; A = Other characters).

The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke

I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before my passion

C When the hour came, [Gesù] took his place at table, and the apostles with him, and said to them: ✠ “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before my passion, because I tell you: I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” C And, having received a cup, he gave thanks and said: ✠ “Take it and pass it among you, because I tell you: from this moment on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

Do this in remembrance of me

C Then he took the bread, gave thanks, broke it, and gave it to them, saying: ✠ “This is my body, which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” C And after supper, he did the same with the cup, saying: ✠ “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

Woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!

“But look, the hand of the one who betrays me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man is going away as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” C Then they began to ask one another which of them would do this.

I am among you as one who serves

And a dispute also arose among them as to which of them was to be considered the greatest. He said: ✠ “The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called benefactors. But you are not to be like that; rather, let the greatest among you become like the youngest, and the one who governs like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who reclines at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? Yet I am among you as one who serves. You are those who have stood by me in my trials, and I prepare a kingdom for you, just as my Father prepared one for me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

You, once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers

“Simon, Simon, behold: Satan has demanded to sift you all like wheat; but I have prayed for you, so that your faith may not fail. And you, once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” C And Peter said to him: D “Lord, with you I am ready to go even to prison and to death.” C He replied: ✠ “Peter, I tell you: today the rooster will not crow before you have denied three times that you know me.”

This Scripture must be fulfilled in me

C Then he said to them: ✠ “When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?” C They replied: D “Nothing.” C And he added: ✠ “But now, let the one who has a purse take it, and likewise a bag; and whoever has no sword, let him sell his cloak and buy one. For I tell you: this Scripture must be fulfilled in me: ‘And he was counted among the lawless.’ Indeed, what concerns me is reaching its fulfillment.” C And they said: D “Lord, here are two swords.” C But he said: ✠ “Enough!”

In his anguish, he prayed more earnestly

C He went out and, as usual, went to the Mount of Olives; the disciples also followed him. When he reached the place, he said to them: ✠ “Pray, so that you may not enter into temptation.” C Then he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed, saying: ✠ “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me! Yet not my will, but yours be done.” C Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. In his anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. Then, rising from prayer, he went to the disciples and found them sleeping from sorrow. And he said to them: ✠ “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray, so that you may not enter into temptation.”

Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?

C While he was still speaking, a crowd arrived; the one called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them and approached Jesus to kiss him. Jesus said to him: ✠ “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” C Then those who were with him, seeing what was about to happen, said: D “Lord, should we strike with the sword?” C And one of them struck the high priest's servant and cut off his right ear. But Jesus intervened, saying: ✠ “Enough! No more of this!” C And touching his ear, he healed him. Then Jesus said to those who had come against him, the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders: ✠ “As though I were a robber, you have come with swords and clubs. Every day I was with you in the temple, and you never laid hands on me; but this is your hour and the power of darkness.”

Peter went outside and wept bitterly

C After seizing him, they led him away and brought him into the high priest's house. Peter followed at a distance. They had lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it; Peter also sat among them. A maid saw him seated near the fire and, looking closely at him, said: A “This man was with him too.” C But he denied it, saying: D “Woman, I don't know him!” C A little later another saw him and said: A “You too are one of them!” C But Peter replied: D “Man, I am not!” C After about an hour, another insisted: A “Surely this man was also with him, for he is a Galilean.” C But Peter said: D “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” C And at that moment, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. Then the Lord turned and looked straight at Peter, and Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?

Meanwhile, the men who were holding Jesus in custody mocked and beat him; they blindfolded him and said to him: A “Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?” C And they said many other things against him, insulting him.

They led him before their Sanhedrin

At daybreak the council of the elders of the people assembled, along with the chief priests and the scribes; they led him before their Sanhedrin and said to him: A “If you are the Christ, tell us.” C They answered: ✠ “Even if I tell you, you will not believe; and if I question you, you will not answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.” C Then they all said: A “So you are the Son of God?” C And he answered them: ✠ “You yourselves say that I am.” C And they said: A “Why do we need any further testimony? We have heard it ourselves from his own mouth.”

I find no grounds for condemning this man

C [The whole assembly rose; they led him to Pilate and began to accuse him: A “We have found this man inciting our people, preventing them from paying taxes to Caesar, and claiming to be Christ, a king.” C Pilate then questioned him: A “Are you the king of the Jews?” C And he answered: ✠ “You say so.” C Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd: A “I find no grounds for condemning this man.” C But they persisted, saying: A “He is stirring up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee and reaching as far as here.” C When he heard this, Pilate asked whether the man was a Galilean and, learning that he was under Herod’s authority, sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem in those days.

Herod and his soldiers insult Jesus

When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad. For a long time he had wanted to see him, having heard about him, and he hoped to see some miracle performed by him. He questioned him at length, but he answered him nothing. The chief priests and the scribes were also present, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod, with his soldiers, treated him with contempt and mocked him; he dressed him in a splendid robe and sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before this they had been enemies.

Pilate hands Jesus over to their will

Pilate, after assembling the chief priests, the authorities, and the people, said to them: A "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people. Behold, I have examined him in your presence, but I have found in this man none of the charges of which you accuse him; neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us. Behold, he has done nothing deserving death. Therefore, after punishing him, I will release him." [ ] C But they all cried out together: F "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!" C He had been imprisoned for an insurrection that had broken out in the city, and for murder. Pilate spoke to them again because he wanted to release Jesus. But they shouted: F "Crucify him! Crucify him!" C And for the third time he said to them: A "But what evil has this man done? I have found nothing in him deserving death. Therefore, I will punish him and release him." C But they kept insisting loudly, demanding that he be crucified, and their shouts grew louder. Pilate then decided that their demand should be carried out. He released the man who had been imprisoned for insurrection and murder, whom they were demanding, and handed Jesus over to their will.

Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me

As they led him away, they seized a certain Simon of Cyrene, who was returning from the fields, and placed the cross on him to carry behind Jesus. A great multitude of people and women followed him, beating their breasts and mourning for him. But Jesus, turning toward them, said: ✠ "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, days are coming when it will be said: 'Blessed are the barren, the wombs that have not borne children and the breasts that have not nursed.' Then they will begin to say to the mountains: 'Fall on us!' and to the hills: 'Cover us!' For if they do this when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?" C Two other men, who were criminals, were also led away with him to be put to death.

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing

When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. Jesus said: ✠ "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." C Then, dividing his garments, they cast lots.

This is the King of the Jews

The people stood watching; but the rulers mocked him, saying: A "He saved others! Let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." C The soldiers also mocked him, coming up to offer him vinegar and saying: A "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself." C Above him there was also an inscription: "This is the King of the Jews."

Today you will be with me in paradise

One of the criminals hanging on the cross insulted him: A "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!" C But the other rebuked him, saying: A "Do you not fear God, you who are condemned to the same punishment? We rightly so, because we are receiving what we deserve for our actions; but he has done nothing wrong." C And he said: A "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." C He replied: ✠ “Truly I tell you: today you will be with me in paradise.”

Father, into your hands I commend my spirit

C It was already about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, because the sun was eclipsed. The veil of the temple was torn in two. Jesus, crying out in a loud voice, said: ✠ “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” C And having said this, he breathed his last.

Here one genuflects and pauses briefly

C When he saw what had happened, the centurion gave glory to God, saying: A “Truly, this man was righteous.” C Likewise, the whole crowd that had come to see this spectacle, reflecting on what had happened, returned, beating their breasts. All his acquaintances, and the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance watching all this.]

Joseph places the body of Jesus in a tomb hewn in the rock

And behold, there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and righteous man. He had not agreed with the decision and action of the others. He was from Arimathea, a city of Judea, and he was awaiting the kingdom of God. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. He took it down from the cross, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb hewn in the rock, in which no one had yet been buried. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning to shine. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph; they observed the tomb and how the body of Jesus had been placed there, then they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils. On the Sabbath day they observed the rest as prescribed. –
The Word of the Lord.