Palm Sunday

The passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. The elders of the people and

the chief priest, and scribes rose, and they brought Jesus to Pilate. They gave their

accusation: "We found this man subverting our nation, opposing payment of taxes to

Caesar, and claiming to be Christ the king." Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the King of

the Jews?" Jesus replied, "You said so." Turning to the chief priests and the crowd,

Pilate said, "I find no basis for a case against this man."

But they insisted, "All the country of the Jews is being stirred up with his teaching. He

began in Galilee and now he has come all the way here." When Pilate heard this, he

asked if the man was a Galilean. Finding the accused to come under Herod's

jurisdiction, Pilate sent Jesus over to Herod who happened to be in Jerusalem at that

time. Herod was delighted to have Jesus before him now; for a long time he had

wanted to see him because of the reports about him, and he was hoping to see Jesus

work some miracle. He piled up question upon question, but got no reply from Jesus.

All the while the chief priests and the scribes remained standing there, vehemently

pressing their accusations. Finally, Herod ridiculed him and with his guards mocked

him. And when he had put a rich cloak on him, he sent him back to Pilate. Pilate and

Herod who were enemies before, became friends from that day. Pilate then called

together the chief priests and the elders before all the people, and said to them, "You

have brought this man before me and accused him of subversion. In your presence I

have examined him and found no basis for your charges. And neither has Herod, for

he sent him back to me. It is quite clear that this man has done nothing that deserves a

death sentence. I will therefore have him scourged and then release him." (On the

Passover Pilate had to release a prisoner.) Howling as one man, they protested: "No!

Away with this man! Release Barabbas instead." This man had been thrown into

prison for an uprising in the city and for murder. Since Pilate wanted to release Jesus,

he appealed to the crowd once more, but they shouted back, "To the cross with him!

To the cross!" A third time Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has he done? Since

no crime deserving death has been proved, I shall have him scourged and let him go."

But they went on shouting and demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their shouts

grew louder. So Pilate decided to pass the sentence they demanded. He released the

DOMINGO DE RAMOS

man they asked for, the one who was in prison for rebellion and murder, and he

delivered Jesus in accordance with their wishes.

When they led Jesus away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the

fields, and laid the cross on him, to carry it behind Jesus. A large crowd of people

followed him; among them were women beating their breast and wailing for him, but

Jesus turned to them and said, "Women of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, weep rather

for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming when people will say:

'Happy are the women without child! Happy are those who have not given birth or

nursed a child! And they will say to the mountains: Fall on us! And to the hills: Cover

us!" For if this is the lot of the green wood, what will happen to the dry?" Along with

Jesus, two criminals also were led out to be executed. There at the place called The

Skull he was crucified together with the criminals - one on his right and another on his

left. (Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.") And the

guards cast lots to divide his clothes among themselves. The people stood by

watching. As for the rulers, they jeered at him, saying to one another, "Let the man

who saved others now save himself, for he is the Messiah, the chosen one of God!"

The soldiers also mocked him and when they drew near to offer him bitter wine, they

said, "So you are the king of the Jews? Free yourself!" For above him was an

inscription which read, "This is the King of the Jews." One of the criminals hanging

with Jesus insulted him, "So you are the Messiah? Save yourself and us as well!"

But the other rebuked him, saying, "Have you no fear of God, you who received the

same sentence as he did? For us it is just: this is payment for what we have done. But

this man has done nothing wrong." And he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come

into your kingdom." Jesus replied, "Truly, you will be with me today in paradise." It

was now about noon. The sun was hidden and darkness came over the whole land until

mid-afternoon; and at that time the curtain of the Sanctuary was torn in two. Then

Jesus gave a loud cry, "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit." And saying that,

he gave up his spirit. The captain on seeing what had happened, acknowledged the

hand of God. He said, "Surely this was an upright man." And all the people who had

gathered to watch the spectacle, as soon as they saw what had happened went home

beating their breasts. Only those who knew Jesus stood at a distance, especially the

women who had followed him from Galilee; they witnessed all this.