Date: March 28, 2021
New American Bible readings
Gospel reading before the palm procession (Mark 11: 1–10) (Option 1)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
When Jesus and his disciples drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately on entering it, you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone should say to you, 'Why are you doing this?' reply, 'The Master has need of it and will send it back here at once.'" So they went off and found a colt tethered at a gate outside on the street, and they untied it. Some of the bystanders said to them, "What are you doing, untying the colt?" They answered them just as Jesus had told them to, and they permitted them to do it. So they brought the colt to Jesus and put their cloaks over it. And he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. Those preceding him as well as those following kept crying out: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Hosanna in the highest!"
Gospel reading before the palm procession (John 12: 12–16) (Option 2)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
When the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out: "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the king of Israel." Jesus found an ass and sat upon it, as is written: Fear no more, O daughter Zion; see, your king comes, seated upon an ass's colt. His disciples did not understand this at first, but when Jesus had been glorified they remembered that these things were written about him and that they had done this for him.
First reading (Isaiah 50: 4–7)
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.
Second reading (Philippians 2: 6–11)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians.
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Gospel (Mark 14:1 – 15:47)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were to take place in two days' time. So the chief priests and the scribes were seeking a way to arrest him by treachery and put him to death. They said, "Not during the festival, for fear that there may be a riot among the people." When he was in Bethany reclining at table in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil, costly genuine spikenard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it on his head. There were some who were indignant. "Why has there been this waste of perfumed oil? It could have been sold for more than three hundred days' wages and the money given to the poor." They were infuriated with her. Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good thing for me. The poor you will always have with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them, but you will not always have me. She has done what she could. She has anticipated anointing my body for burial. Amen, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed to the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her." Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went off to the chief priests to hand him over to them. When they heard him they were pleased and promised to pay him money. Then he looked for an opportunity to hand him over. On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?" He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?"' Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there." The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. When it was evening, he came with the Twelve. And as they reclined at table and were eating, Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me." They began to be distressed and to say to him, one by one, "Surely it is not I?" He said to them, "One of the Twelve, the one who dips with me into the dish. For the Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born." While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will have your faith shaken, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be dispersed. But after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee." Peter said to him, "Even though all should have their faith shaken, mine will not be." Then Jesus said to him, "Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times." But he vehemently replied, "Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you." And they all spoke similarly. Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be troubled and distressed. Then he said to them, "My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch." He advanced a little and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass by him; he said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will." When he returned he found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak." Withdrawing again, he prayed, saying the same thing. Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open and did not know what to answer him. He returned a third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. See, my betrayer is at hand." Then, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. His betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, "The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and lead him away securely." He came and immediately went over to him and said, "Rabbi." And he kissed him. At this they laid hands on him and arrested him. One of the bystanders drew his sword, struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his ear. Jesus said to them in reply, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs, to seize me? Day after day I was with you teaching in the temple area, yet you did not arrest me; but that the Scriptures may be fulfilled." And they all left him and fled. Now a young man followed him wearing nothing but a linen cloth about his body. They seized him, but he left the cloth behind and ran off naked. They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. Peter followed him at a distance into the high priest's courtyard and was seated with the guards, warming himself at the fire. The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none. Many gave false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. Some took the stand and testified falsely against him, alleging, "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands and within three days I will build another not made with hands.'" Even so their testimony did not agree. The high priest rose before the assembly and questioned Jesus, saying, "Have you no answer? What are these men testifying against you?" But he was silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him and said to him, "Are you the Christ, the son of the Blessed One?" Then Jesus answered, "I am; and 'you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.'" At that the high priest tore his garments and said, "What further need have we of witnesses? You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned him as deserving to die. Some began to spit on him. They blindfolded him and struck him and said to him, "Prophesy!" And the guards greeted him with blows. While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest's maids came along. Seeing Peter warming himself, she looked intently at him and said, "You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus." But he denied it saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are talking about." So he went out into the outer court. Then the cock crowed. The maid saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, "This man is one of them." Once again he denied it. A little later the bystanders said to Peter once more, "Surely you are one of them; for you too are a Galilean." He began to curse and to swear, "I do not know this man about whom you are talking." And immediately a cock crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, "Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times." He broke down and wept. As soon as morning came, the chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, the whole Sanhedrin held a council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He said to him in reply, "You say so." The chief priests accused him of many things. Again Pilate questioned him, "Have you no answer? See how many things they accuse you of." Jesus gave him no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed. Now on the occasion of the feast, he used to release to them one prisoner whom they requested. A man called Barabbas was then in prison along with the rebels who had committed murder in a rebellion. The crowd came forward and began to ask him to do for them as he was accustomed. Pilate answered, "Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" For he knew that it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate again said to them in reply, "Then what do you want me to do with the man you call the king of the Jews?" They shouted again, "Crucify him." Pilate said to them, "Why? What evil has he done?" They only shouted the louder, "Crucify him." So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified. The soldiers led him away inside the palace, that is, the praetorium, and assembled the whole cohort. They clothed him in purple and, weaving a crown of thorns, placed it on him. They began to salute him with, “All hail, King of the Jews!" and kept striking his head with a reed and spitting upon him. They knelt before him in homage. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him out to crucify him. They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. They brought him to the place of Golgotha — which is translated Place of the Skull — They gave him wine drugged with myrrh, but he did not take it. Then they crucified him and divided his garments by casting lots for them to see what each should take. It was nine o'clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, "The King of the Jews." With him they crucified two revolutionaries, one on his right and one on his left. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself by coming down from the cross." Likewise the chief priests, with the scribes, mocked him among themselves and said, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also kept abusing him. At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Some of the bystanders who heard it said, "Look, he is calling Elijah." One of them ran, soaked a sponge with wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink saying, "Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to take him down." Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!" There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joseph, and Salome. These women had followed him when he was in Galilee and ministered to him. There were also many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. When it was already evening, since it was the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a distinguished member of the council, who was himself awaiting the kingdom of God, came and courageously went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was amazed that he was already dead. He summoned the centurion and asked him if Jesus had already died. And when he learned of it from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. Having bought a linen cloth, he took him down, wrapped him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph watched where he was laid.
Catholic Pastoral Edition Bible readings
Gospel reading before the palm procession (Mark 11: 1–10) (Option 1)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
When Jesus and his disciples drew near to Jerusalem and arrived at Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples with these instructions, "Go to the village on the other side and, as you enter it, you will find there a colt tied up that no one has ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you: 'What are you doing?' give this answer: 'The Lord needs it, but he will send it back immediately.'" They went off and found the colt out in the street tied at the door. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders asked, "Why are you untying that colt?" They answered as Jesus had told them, and the people allowed them to continue. They brought the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks on its back, and Jesus sat upon it. Many people also spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread leafy branches from the fields. Then the people who walked ahead and those who followed behind Jesus began to shout, "Hosannah! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David which comes! Hosannah in the highest!"
Gospel reading before the palm procession (John 12: 12–16) (Option 2)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
The next day many people who had come for the festival heard that Jesus was to enter Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him. And they cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!" Jesus found a donkey and sat upon it, as Scripture says: Do not fear, city of Zion, see your king is coming sitting on the colt of a donkey. The disciples were not aware of this at first, but after Jesus was glorified, they remembered and realize that this had been written of him and that they themselves had taken part in it.
First reading (Isaiah 50: 4–7)
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah.
The Lord 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 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 comes to my help. So, like a flint I set my face, knowing that I will not be disgraced.
Second reading (Philippians 2: 6–11)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians.
Though being divine in nature, he did not claim in fact equality with God, 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 Jesus Christ is the Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Gospel (Mark 14:1 – 15:47)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
It was now two days before the feast of the Passover and Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the teachers of the Law were looking craftily for a way to arrest Jesus and put him to death, for they said, "Not during the Festival, or there might be trouble among the people." Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper. As he was lying down at dinner, a woman entered carrying a precious jar of expensive perfume made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfumed oil on Jesus' head. Then some of them became angry and said, "What a useless waste of perfume. It could have been sold for more than three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor." And they criticized her. But Jesus said, "Leave her alone; why are you troubling her? What she has just done for me is a very charitable work. At any time you can help the poor, for you always have them with you, but you will not have them forever. This woman has done what was hers to do, she has anointed my body beforehand for my burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever the Good News is proclaimed, and this will be throughout the world, what she has done will be told in praise of her. Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus to them. On hearing him they were excited and promised to give him money. So Judas started planning the best way to hand Jesus over to them. On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the day when the Passover Lamb was killed, the disciples asked him, "Where would you have us go to prepare the Passover meal for you?" So Jesus sent two of his disciples with these instructions. "Go into the city and in there, is a man who will come to you carrying a jar of water. Follow him to the house he enters and say to the owner, 'The Master says: Where is the room where I may eat the Passover meal with my disciples?' Then he will show you a large room upstairs, already arranged and furnished. There you will prepare for us." The disciples went off. When they reached the city, they found everything just as Jesus had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were at the table eating, Jesus stated, "Truly, I will tell you, one of you will betray me, one who shares my meal." They were deeply distressed at hearing this and ask him, one after the other, "You don't mean me, do you?" And Jesus answered, "It is one of you Twelve, one who dips his bread in the dish with me. The Son of Man is going as the Scriptures say he will. But alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed; better for him if he had never been born." While they were eating, Jesus took the bread, blessed it and broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take this, it is my body." Then he took the cup and after he had given thanks, passed the cup to them and they all drank from it. And he said, "This is my blood, the blood of the Covenant, which is to be poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not taste the fruit of the vine again until the day I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God." After singing psalms of praise, they went out to the Hill of Olives. And Jesus stated to them, "All of you will be confused and fall away; for the Scripture says: I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. But after I am raised up, I will go to Galilee ahead of you." Then Peter said to him, "Even though all the others fall away, I will not." And Jesus replied, "Truly, I say to you, today, on this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." But Peter insisted, "Though I have to die with you, I will never deny you." And all of them stated the same. They came to a place which was called Gethsemane and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." But he took Peter, James, and John along with him, and becoming filled with fear and distress, he said to them, "My soul is full of sorrow, even to death. Remain here and stay awake." Then he went a little further on and fell to the ground, praying that if possible this hour might pass him by. Jesus said, "Abba (Daddy), all things are possible for you; take this cup away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want." Then he came and found them asleep and stated to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn't you stay awake for one hour? Keep watch and pray, all of you, so that you may not slip into temptation. The spirit indeed is eager but human nature is weak." And going away he prayed the same words. When he came back to the disciples, he found them asleep again; they could not keep their eyes open, and they did not know what to say to him. When he came back the third time, he stated, "You can sleep on now and take your rest. It is all over, for the time has come; the Son of Man is now given into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us go. Look, the one betraying me is right here." While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, who had been sent by the chief priests, the teachers of the Law, and the elders. The traitor had arranged a signal for them, "The one I kiss, he is the man. Arrest him and take him away under guard." So, when Jesus came, Judas went directly to him, calling, "Master! Master!" and kissed him. Then the guards seized Jesus and arrested him. One of the bystanders drew his sword and struck out at the High Priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. Jesus turned to them saying, "So, you have set out against a robber! Did you need swords and clubs to arrest me? Day after day I was among you teaching in the Temple and you did not arrest me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled." Then they all deserted him and fled. A young man covered by nothing but a linen cloth followed Jesus. As they took hold of him, he left the cloth in their hands and fled away naked. They led Jesus to the High Priest and all the chief priests assembled with the elders and the teachers of the Law. Peter had followed him at a distance and went right into the courtyard of the High Priest, where he sat with the guards, warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole Council tried to find some evidence against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they were unable to find any. Even though many came up to speak falsely against him, their evidence did not agree. At last some stood up and gave this false witness: "We heard him say: 'I will destroy this Temple made by hands and in three days I will build another not made by human hands.'" But even so, their evidence did not agree. The High Priest then stood up in the midst of them and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer at all? What of this evidence against you?" However, Jesus still stood silent and made no reply. The High Priest then asked a second question to Jesus, "Are you Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" Then Jesus answered, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Most Powerful and coming with the clouds of heaven around him." The High Priest tore his clothes to show his horror and stated, "What more evidence do we need? You have just heard his blasphemous words. What is your decision?" Everybody condemned Jesus, saying, "He must die." Some of them began to spit on Jesus, and blindfolding him, they struck him saying, "Play the prophet!" Additionally, the guards set upon him with blows. While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the High Priest's servant-girls came by. Noticing Peter beside the fire, she looked straight at him and stated, "You also were with Jesus the Nazarene." But Peter denied it, "I do not know or understand what you are talking about." And he went out through the gateway. The servant-girl saw him there and told the bystanders, "This man is one of them." But Peter denied it again. After a little while those standing by stated to Peter, "Of course you are one of them; you are a Galilean, are you not?" And Peter began to justify himself with curses and oaths, "I do not know the man you are talking about." Just then a cock crowed a second time and Peter remembered what Jesus had stated to him; "Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times." Peter broke down and wept. 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, so that Pilate wondered. 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?" However, in spite of Pilate's question they shouted louder, "Crucify him!" As Pilate wanted to please the people, he freed Barabbas and after the flogging of Jesus had him handed over to be crucified. The soldiers took him inside the courtyard known as the praetorium and called the rest of their companions. They clothed Jesus in a purple cloak and twisting a crown of thorns, they placed it on Jesus' head. Then they began saluting him, "Long life to the King of the Jews!" With a stick, they hit Jesus on the head and spat on him, and then they knelt down pretending to worship him. When they had finished mocking Jesus, they pulled off the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. The soldiers led Jesus 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 each 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 Jesus' right and one on his left. Jesus was in the center. People passing by laughed at him, shook their head and jeered, "Aha! So you are able to tear down the Temple and build it up again in three days. Now save yourself and come down from the cross!" In the same way, the chief priests and the teachers of the Law teased Jesus, 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. 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 is translated as, "My God, my God, why have you deserted me?" As soon as the people heard these words, some of the bystanders stated, "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 him to drink saying, "Now let's see whether Elijah comes to bring him down." But Jesus gave a loud shriek and gave up his spirit. Immediately, the drapes that enclosed the Temple sanctuary were torn in two from top to bottom. The captain who was standing in front of Jesus saw how he died and heard the cry he gave; and he stated, "Truly, this man was the Son of God." There were also some women watching from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, the younger and Joset and Salome, who had followed Jesus when he was in Galilee and saw to his needs. There were also others who had come up with him to Jerusalem. It was now evening and as it was Preparation Day, that is the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea boldly went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Joseph was a respected member of the Council who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God. Pilate was surprised that Jesus should have died so soon; so he summoned the captain and inquired if Jesus was already dead. After hearing the captain, he let Joseph take the body. Joseph took it down and wrapped it in the linen sheet he had purchased. He laid the body in a tomb which had been cut out of the rock and rolled a stone across the entrance to the tomb. Now Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of Joset took note of where the body had been laid.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
When Jesus and his disciples drew near to Jerusalem and arrived at Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples with these instructions, "Go to the village on the other side and, as you enter it, you will find there a colt tied up that no one has ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you: 'What are you doing?' give this answer: 'The Lord needs it, but he will send it back immediately.'" They went off and found the colt out in the street tied at the door. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders asked, "Why are you untying that colt?" They answered as Jesus had told them, and the people allowed them to continue. They brought the colt to Jesus, threw their cloaks on its back, and Jesus sat upon it. Many people also spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread leafy branches from the fields. Then the people who walked ahead and those who followed behind Jesus began to shout, "Hosannah! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David which comes! Hosannah in the highest!"
Gospel reading before the palm procession (John 12: 12–16) (Option 2)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.
The next day many people who had come for the festival heard that Jesus was to enter Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him. And they cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!" Jesus found a donkey and sat upon it, as Scripture says: Do not fear, city of Zion, see your king is coming sitting on the colt of a donkey. The disciples were not aware of this at first, but after Jesus was glorified, they remembered and realize that this had been written of him and that they themselves had taken part in it.
First reading (Isaiah 50: 4–7)
A reading from the book of the Prophet Isaiah.
The Lord 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 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 comes to my help. So, like a flint I set my face, knowing that I will not be disgraced.
Second reading (Philippians 2: 6–11)
A reading from the letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians.
Though being divine in nature, he did not claim in fact equality with God, 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 Jesus Christ is the Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Gospel (Mark 14:1 – 15:47)
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
It was now two days before the feast of the Passover and Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the teachers of the Law were looking craftily for a way to arrest Jesus and put him to death, for they said, "Not during the Festival, or there might be trouble among the people." Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper. As he was lying down at dinner, a woman entered carrying a precious jar of expensive perfume made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfumed oil on Jesus' head. Then some of them became angry and said, "What a useless waste of perfume. It could have been sold for more than three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor." And they criticized her. But Jesus said, "Leave her alone; why are you troubling her? What she has just done for me is a very charitable work. At any time you can help the poor, for you always have them with you, but you will not have them forever. This woman has done what was hers to do, she has anointed my body beforehand for my burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever the Good News is proclaimed, and this will be throughout the world, what she has done will be told in praise of her. Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went off to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus to them. On hearing him they were excited and promised to give him money. So Judas started planning the best way to hand Jesus over to them. On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the day when the Passover Lamb was killed, the disciples asked him, "Where would you have us go to prepare the Passover meal for you?" So Jesus sent two of his disciples with these instructions. "Go into the city and in there, is a man who will come to you carrying a jar of water. Follow him to the house he enters and say to the owner, 'The Master says: Where is the room where I may eat the Passover meal with my disciples?' Then he will show you a large room upstairs, already arranged and furnished. There you will prepare for us." The disciples went off. When they reached the city, they found everything just as Jesus had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were at the table eating, Jesus stated, "Truly, I will tell you, one of you will betray me, one who shares my meal." They were deeply distressed at hearing this and ask him, one after the other, "You don't mean me, do you?" And Jesus answered, "It is one of you Twelve, one who dips his bread in the dish with me. The Son of Man is going as the Scriptures say he will. But alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed; better for him if he had never been born." While they were eating, Jesus took the bread, blessed it and broke it, gave it to them, and said, "Take this, it is my body." Then he took the cup and after he had given thanks, passed the cup to them and they all drank from it. And he said, "This is my blood, the blood of the Covenant, which is to be poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not taste the fruit of the vine again until the day I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God." After singing psalms of praise, they went out to the Hill of Olives. And Jesus stated to them, "All of you will be confused and fall away; for the Scripture says: I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered. But after I am raised up, I will go to Galilee ahead of you." Then Peter said to him, "Even though all the others fall away, I will not." And Jesus replied, "Truly, I say to you, today, on this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times." But Peter insisted, "Though I have to die with you, I will never deny you." And all of them stated the same. They came to a place which was called Gethsemane and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." But he took Peter, James, and John along with him, and becoming filled with fear and distress, he said to them, "My soul is full of sorrow, even to death. Remain here and stay awake." Then he went a little further on and fell to the ground, praying that if possible this hour might pass him by. Jesus said, "Abba (Daddy), all things are possible for you; take this cup away from me. Yet not what I want, but what you want." Then he came and found them asleep and stated to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn't you stay awake for one hour? Keep watch and pray, all of you, so that you may not slip into temptation. The spirit indeed is eager but human nature is weak." And going away he prayed the same words. When he came back to the disciples, he found them asleep again; they could not keep their eyes open, and they did not know what to say to him. When he came back the third time, he stated, "You can sleep on now and take your rest. It is all over, for the time has come; the Son of Man is now given into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us go. Look, the one betraying me is right here." While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came up. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, who had been sent by the chief priests, the teachers of the Law, and the elders. The traitor had arranged a signal for them, "The one I kiss, he is the man. Arrest him and take him away under guard." So, when Jesus came, Judas went directly to him, calling, "Master! Master!" and kissed him. Then the guards seized Jesus and arrested him. One of the bystanders drew his sword and struck out at the High Priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. Jesus turned to them saying, "So, you have set out against a robber! Did you need swords and clubs to arrest me? Day after day I was among you teaching in the Temple and you did not arrest me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled." Then they all deserted him and fled. A young man covered by nothing but a linen cloth followed Jesus. As they took hold of him, he left the cloth in their hands and fled away naked. They led Jesus to the High Priest and all the chief priests assembled with the elders and the teachers of the Law. Peter had followed him at a distance and went right into the courtyard of the High Priest, where he sat with the guards, warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and the whole Council tried to find some evidence against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they were unable to find any. Even though many came up to speak falsely against him, their evidence did not agree. At last some stood up and gave this false witness: "We heard him say: 'I will destroy this Temple made by hands and in three days I will build another not made by human hands.'" But even so, their evidence did not agree. The High Priest then stood up in the midst of them and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer at all? What of this evidence against you?" However, Jesus still stood silent and made no reply. The High Priest then asked a second question to Jesus, "Are you Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" Then Jesus answered, "I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Most Powerful and coming with the clouds of heaven around him." The High Priest tore his clothes to show his horror and stated, "What more evidence do we need? You have just heard his blasphemous words. What is your decision?" Everybody condemned Jesus, saying, "He must die." Some of them began to spit on Jesus, and blindfolding him, they struck him saying, "Play the prophet!" Additionally, the guards set upon him with blows. While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the High Priest's servant-girls came by. Noticing Peter beside the fire, she looked straight at him and stated, "You also were with Jesus the Nazarene." But Peter denied it, "I do not know or understand what you are talking about." And he went out through the gateway. The servant-girl saw him there and told the bystanders, "This man is one of them." But Peter denied it again. After a little while those standing by stated to Peter, "Of course you are one of them; you are a Galilean, are you not?" And Peter began to justify himself with curses and oaths, "I do not know the man you are talking about." Just then a cock crowed a second time and Peter remembered what Jesus had stated to him; "Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times." Peter broke down and wept. 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, so that Pilate wondered. 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?" However, in spite of Pilate's question they shouted louder, "Crucify him!" As Pilate wanted to please the people, he freed Barabbas and after the flogging of Jesus had him handed over to be crucified. The soldiers took him inside the courtyard known as the praetorium and called the rest of their companions. They clothed Jesus in a purple cloak and twisting a crown of thorns, they placed it on Jesus' head. Then they began saluting him, "Long life to the King of the Jews!" With a stick, they hit Jesus on the head and spat on him, and then they knelt down pretending to worship him. When they had finished mocking Jesus, they pulled off the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. The soldiers led Jesus 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 each 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 Jesus' right and one on his left. Jesus was in the center. People passing by laughed at him, shook their head and jeered, "Aha! So you are able to tear down the Temple and build it up again in three days. Now save yourself and come down from the cross!" In the same way, the chief priests and the teachers of the Law teased Jesus, 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. 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 is translated as, "My God, my God, why have you deserted me?" As soon as the people heard these words, some of the bystanders stated, "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 him to drink saying, "Now let's see whether Elijah comes to bring him down." But Jesus gave a loud shriek and gave up his spirit. Immediately, the drapes that enclosed the Temple sanctuary were torn in two from top to bottom. The captain who was standing in front of Jesus saw how he died and heard the cry he gave; and he stated, "Truly, this man was the Son of God." There were also some women watching from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, the younger and Joset and Salome, who had followed Jesus when he was in Galilee and saw to his needs. There were also others who had come up with him to Jerusalem. It was now evening and as it was Preparation Day, that is the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea boldly went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Joseph was a respected member of the Council who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God. Pilate was surprised that Jesus should have died so soon; so he summoned the captain and inquired if Jesus was already dead. After hearing the captain, he let Joseph take the body. Joseph took it down and wrapped it in the linen sheet he had purchased. He laid the body in a tomb which had been cut out of the rock and rolled a stone across the entrance to the tomb. Now Mary of Magdala and Mary the mother of Joset took note of where the body had been laid.
