Saturday, March 31, 2012
PASSION SUNDAY
PASSION SUNDAY
Mk 11:1-10 or Jn 12:12-16 / Is 50:4-7 / Phil 2:6-11/ Mk 14:1-15:47 or
15:1-39, Red
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have not rebelled, nor have I withdrawn.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.
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.
MARK 15:1-39
Early in the morning, the chief priests, the elders and the teachers
of the Law (that is, the whole Council or Sanhedrin) had their plan
ready. They put Jesus in chains, led him away and handed him over to
Pilate. Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews Jesus
answered, "You say so." As the chief priests accused Jesus of many
things, Pilate asked him again, "Have you no answer at all? See how
many charges they bring against you." But Jesus gave no further
answers, much to Pilate's surprise. At every Passover festival, Pilate
used to free any prisoner the people asked for. Now there was a man
called Barabbas, jailed with the rioters who had committed murder in
the uprising. When the crowd went up to ask Pilate the usual favor, he
said to them, "Do you want me to set free the King of the Jews?" for
he realized that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him out of
envy. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to ask instead for
the release of Barabbas. Pilate replied, "And what shall I do with the
man you call King of the Jews?" The crowd shouted back, "Crucify him!"
Pilate asked, "What evil has he done?" But they shouted the louder,
"Crucify him!" As Pilate wanted to please the people, he freed
Barabbas; and having had Jesus flogged, Pilate handed him over to be
crucified. The soldiers took him inside the courtyard, known as the
praetorium, and called the rest of their companions. They clothed him
in a purple cloak, and twisting a crown of thorns, they forced it onto
his head. Then they began saluting him, "Long life to the King of the
Jews!" With a stick they gave him blows on the head and spat on him;
then they knelt down, pretending to worship him. When they had
finished mocking him, they pulled off the purple cloak and put his own
clothes on him. The soldiers led him out of the city to crucify him.
On the way they met Simon of Cyrene, father of Alexander and Rufus,
who was coming in from the country, and forced him to carry the cross
of Jesus. When they had led him to the place called Golgotha, which
means the Skull, they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he would
not take it. Then they nailed him to the cross, and divided his
clothes among themselves, casting lots to decide what every man should
take. It was about nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified
him. The statement of his offense was displayed above his head, and it
read, "The King of the Jews." They also crucified two robbers with
him, one on his right and one on his left. And the Scripture was
fulfilled which says: And with lawless ones he was numbered. People
passing by laughed at him, shook their heads and jeered, "Aha! So you
are able to tear down the Temple and build it up in three days? Save
yourself now, and come down from the cross!" In the same way the chief
priests and the teachers of the Law mocked him, saying to one another,
"The man who saved others cannot save himself. Let's see the Messiah,
the king of Israel, come down from his cross, and then we will believe
in him." Even the men who were crucified with Jesus insulted him. When
noon came, darkness fell over the whole land and lasted until three
o'clock; and at three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi,
Eloi, lamma sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you
deserted me?" As soon as they heard these words, some of the
bystanders said, "Listen! He is calling for Elijah." And one of them
went quickly to fill a sponge with bitter wine, and putting it on a
reed, gave it to him to drink, saying, "Now let's see whether Elijah
comes to take him down." But Jesus uttered a loud cry and gave up his
spirit. And immediately the curtain that enclosed the Temple sanctuary
was torn in two from top to bottom. The captain, who was standing in
front of him, saw how Jesus died and heard the cry he gave; and he
said, "Truly, this man was the Son of God."
REFLECTION
Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week and is a day of glory and
impending tragedy. Jesus begins with a triumphant journey from
Bethany, riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, with people waving palm
branches, shouting "Hosanna" and acclaiming him as a conquering king.
Before long, as triumph turned to tragedy, those palm branches would
take the shape of a cross and the hosannas became jeers and calls for
Jesus' death.
Holy Week is the most sacred time of the Church year. It highlights
Jesus' love for us, gives us an opportunity to look at our own lives
and accept responsibility for our sins. The passion story spells out
the last events of Jesus' life and makes clear the price that he paid
for our sins. He was betrayed by Judas for just 30 pieces of silver,
denied not once but three times by Peter, and abandoned by all. On the
cross, Jesus cries out: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Jesus' death on the cross reminds us that there is a God toward whom
we journey and whose friendship we seek.
Every Christian becomes aware that he has to meet the same fate as
Jesus. We must join in Jesus' suffering and death to share his glory.
Our victory, like Jesus' victory, comes only through the cross. This
final week of Lent offers us an opportunity to bring our hearts and
minds into harmony with Jesus. Let us make a special effort to attend
the Church ceremonies that dramatize the last agonizing moments of our
Savior's life. Listen to the passion story in a spirit of prayer and
embrace its message. Each of us had a hand in his death because the
face of Jesus is marred and scarred by the violence and injury we
inflict on our neighbors. If we are honest with ourselves, we can see
shades of ourselves in all those who put Jesus to death.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Elena, Michael G, Josh, Brian, JT, Mary Ann, Linda O, Delores, Gene
L
- Mon Torres
- Rakkie Villa
- Chief Samrose Anyaugo
- Mark Weber
- Bud Larson
- Ditas dela Paz
- Sr. Teresita Canivel, MIC
… for the personal intentions of
- Dana, Eugene R, Rita & Pam & Ben, Darlene
- Pauline
- Dr Ugonna Anyaugo, Ogechi Anyaugo, Barr & Mrs Obinna Okoronkwo,
Ifeanyi Matts Anyaugo, Chuba Osy Anyaugo, Cordelia Anyaugo
- Fred de Leon
- Ising Gonzales
… In Memoriam: Chief & Ezinne Paul Ezekwe, Nneoma Rose Anyaugo, Laura
Ezekwe & other deceased members of Anyaugo & Ezekwe families
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Lorraine Philipps N. Sy
- In Memoriam (+): Yu Ba Lee+
… for families who are in need of healing
… for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers
and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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