Sunday 10 April 2022 – Palm Sunday

Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke (short form) (22.1 – 49)

– I find no grounds for condemnation in this man
At that time, the whole assembly got up; they took Jesus to Pilate and began to accuse him: “We found this man who stirred up our people, prevented us from paying tribute to Caesar and claimed to be Christ the king.” Pilate then asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he replied, “You say so.” Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd: “I find no cause for condemnation in this man.” But they insisted saying: “This man raises the people, teaching for all Judea, after starting from Galilee, up to here.” Upon hearing this, Pilate asked if that man was a Galilean and, knowing that he was under the authority of Herod, he sent him back to Herod, who in those days was also in Jerusalem.
– Herod with his soldiers insults Jesus
Seeing Jesus, Herod was very happy. For a long time she had wanted to see him, for having heard of him, and she hoped to see some miracle done by him. He questioned him, asking him many questions, but he didn’t answer anything. The chief priests and scribes were also present, and insisted on accusing him. Then Herod also, with his soldiers, insulted him, made fun of him, put on him a splendid robe and sent him back to Pilate. On that day Herod and Pilate became friends with each other; before in fact there had been enmity between them.
– Pilate abandons Jesus to their will
Pilate, having gathered the chief priests, the authorities and the people, said to them: “You brought this man to me as an agitator of the people. Behold, I have examined him in front of you, but I have not found in this man any of the sins you accuse him of; nor did Herod: in fact he sent him back to us. Behold, he has done nothing worthy of death. Therefore, after having punished him, I will set him free ». But they all started shouting together: “Get this one out of my way!” Let us free Barabbas! ». He had been put in prison for a riot, which broke out in the city, and for murder. Pilate spoke to them again, because he wanted to set Jesus free. But they shouted: «Crucify him! Crucify him! ». And he, for the third time, said to them: “But what harm has this man done?” I have found nothing in him that deserves death. Therefore, I will punish him and set him free ». But they insisted with a loud voice, demanding that he be crucified, and their cries increased. Pilate then decided that their request should be carried out. He released the one who had been imprisoned for revolt and murder, and whom they demanded, and delivered Jesus to their will.
– Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep over me
As they led him away, they stopped a certain Simon of Cyrene, who was returning from the fields, and placed the cross on him, to be carried after Jesus. A great multitude of people and women followed him, beating their breasts and complaining about of him. But Jesus, turning towards them, said: «Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep over me, but weep over yourselves and over your children. Behold, the days will come when it will be said: “Blessed are the barren, the wombs that have not begotten 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!”. Because, if green wood is treated like this, what will happen to dry wood? ».
Together with him, two others, who were criminals, were also led to death.
– Father, forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing
When they reached the place called Skull, they crucified him and the evildoers, one on the right and the other on the left. Jesus said: “Father, forgive them because they don’t know what they are doing”.
Then dividing his garments, they cast lots for them.
– This is the king of the Jews
The people stood by to see; the leaders, on the other hand, mocked him saying: «He has saved others! Save himself, if he is the Christ of God, the chosen one “. Even the soldiers laughed at him, approached him to hand him some vinegar and said: “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself”. Above him there was also an inscription: “This is the king of the Jews”.
– Today you will be in paradise with me
One of the evildoers hanging on the cross insulted him: «Aren’t you the Christ? He saves yourself and us! ». The other, on the other hand, reproached him saying: “Do you have no fear of God, you who are condemned to the same penalty? We, rightly, because we receive what we deserve for our actions; he, on the other hand, has done nothing wrong. ” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” He replied: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
– Father, into your hands I commit my spirit
It was already around noon and it got dark all over the earth until three in the afternoon, because the sun had disappeared. The veil of the temple was torn in half. Jesus, shouting with a loud voice, said: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Having said that, he passed away.
(Here he genuflects and takes a short pause)
Seeing what had happened, the centurion gave glory to God by saying: “Truly this man was just.” So too the whole crowd that had come to see this spectacle, thinking about what had happened, returned beating their breasts. All his acquaintances, and the women who had followed him from Galilee, were watching all this from afar.

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