ATC 12 Prostration on Good Friday

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Pope Benedict XVI said, “I shall never forget lying on the ground at the time of my own priestly and episcopal ordination… The fact that the praying Church was calling upon all the saints, that the prayer of the Church really was enveloping and embracing me, was a wonderful consolation.”

He is RISEN! Alleluia! Thank you for joining me for All Things Catholic on this Wednesday within the Octave of Easter. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and together we are going to explore what it means to be Catholic. Someone asked a question about something they saw on Good Friday that I did not address. They were watching their parish’s Good Friday service and they noticed something. At the start of the service, the priest and the deacon prostrated themselves before the altar. What’s that all about?

I’m so glad you asked! If you have a question you’d like me to address, please use the comment form on the website, or send me an email to rudy@deaconrudysnotes.org.

Ok, so why do bishops, priests and deacons prostrate themselves on Good Friday? Well, to answer that question we need to go back to ordination, although this is also true in the consecration of men and women as monks/brothers or nuns/sisters.

Various church documents describe prostration as the ultimate act of humility. Indeed, Scripture describes lying prostrate before the Lord as a position of deep, intense, emotional prayer. Moses lay prostrate before God for 40 days and nights (Deuteronomy 9:18-20, 25-27). Jesus lay prostrate in Gethsemane when he prayed that the cup might pass him (Matthew 26:39).

In a similar way, that time before ordination or consecration is a time of intense, humble prayer. When we lay down, we die to ourselves so that we may rise a new. After ordination or consecration, about the only time most of us will see prostration is at the beginning of the Good Friday service. Although just so you know, if a priest or deacon are unable to safely prostrate themselves, they are permitted to kneel, but prostration is preferred.

At Good Friday, the act of prostration is first and foremost an act of humility. Not unlike who David who lay prostrate before the Angel of the Lord for his sin (1 Chronicles 21:16-17), when the bishop, priest and deacon lay prostrate on Good Friday, it is an expression of the profound grief and sorrow of the Church (that means on all of our behalf) for the crucifixion of Jesus.

Now we’ve already said a couple of times that lying prostrate is an act of humility. What does that mean exactly? Well, the Church teaches that humility is a virtue that enables us to see ourselves as we truly are and to be in touch with this reality as we contribute to what God is doing in the world. Does that mean that bishops, priests and deacons have it more together than everyone else?

No, I don’t think so except maybe in this one way. When we clergy as disciples lay prostrate, we acknowledge that we have given our lives to Jesus Christ. Our act is symbolic of us laying everything down for the Kingdom – and I mean everything. We remind ourselves that everything we are and everything we have is a blessing meant to serve Jesus Christ, His Church, and the people of God – including our very lives. Our story as a people of faith is filled with the stories of martyrs, some clergy and some lay, who freely surrendered everything for the sake of discipleship. That was true then, and it is true now.

Ok, now that we’ve discussed what prostration is from its biblical roots to Church teaching and to the effect it has on the clergy, I’d like to briefly explore what this means in our (all of our) everyday lives. To do that, I’d like to share one of the many COVID-19 stories being shared out there.

It’s about Fr. Jorge Ortiz-Garay of St. Brigid’s in Brooklyn. He was a charismatic and pastoral priest. He served a predominately blue-collar neighborhood. It was not uncommon to see him out on Ash Wednesday walking the streets bringing ashes to the mechanics and other workers who couldn’t get off work to come to mass. I know that some people frown at the idea of drive-thru ashes, but Fr. Jorge wanted everyone to feel connected to the community. He also wanted to send every hardworking person a clear message that Holy Mother Church did not forget them.

Father suffered from bronchitis, so he was not concerned when started feeling a little sick. But he kept on working. In his virtual mass on March 19th, he looked into the camera and said, “There’s no better time than this time of trials, this time of challenges, to fulfill our call to holiness. At these moments of trial and crisis, at these times when maybe we are asking what will happen to us, trust in the Father.”

Not long after, he asked Fr. Joseph Dutan, the junior priest in the rectory, to drive him to Wyckoff Hospital. Fr. Joseph urged Fr. Jorge to fight. He said, “Don’t worry, I am happy. I am not scared because I know the Lord is with me.” Fr. Jorge died on March 27 at the age of 49. He was the first priest in the United States to die of COVID-19.

Fr. Jorge was at higher risk because as a priest he was in a people-facing job and because of his history of bronchitis, but that didn’t scare him. Don’t get me wrong – he clearly took some reasonable precautions like implementing virtual masses, but unlike some people I’ve visited with who are afraid, he didn’t allow the virus to scare him. There’s a lesson there for all of us.

When the clergy prostrate themselves, it’s not just for their own sake. Each and every one of us is drawn into that act of humility. We are all reminded that, like Fr. Jorge, we have nothing to fear because as disciples, the Lord walks with us. If we believe – I mean if we really believe that we have been saved and renewed by the blood and water that flowed from Jesus’ side, then how can we be afraid to die? Maybe it’s not death that scares some, but all the unfinished business before us.

This pandemic should give all of us pause. Not only should it encourage us to rethink our priorities, but it should also remind us that there is no better time than the present to set our life in order. Think of all the people around the world who have had to die alone. Now is the time to reach out and say, “I’m sorry,” or “I forgive you,” and “I love you.” While I don’t normally assign homework on Wednesdays, if there is some unfinished business, then I encourage you to get to it. Don’t wait until next Good Friday when you see the priest and deacon prostrate themselves to say to yourself, “Oops! I forgot something!”

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to All Things Catholic. I hope you enjoyed today’s show where we discussed prostration from its biblical roots to Church teaching to the effect it has on the clergy and what it means to all of us in the pews. If you have a question you’d like me to discuss, please use the comment form on the website, or send me an email to rudy@deaconrudysnotes.org.

This episode was produced by deacon rudy’s notes. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join us again next time and don’t forget to check out the weekend edition where we break open the Word. He is RISEN! Alleluia!

Notes:
<1> Congregation for Divine Worship. Letter Concerning the Preparation and Celebration of the Easter Feasts. Vatican.va. 1988.
<2> Roman Missal, Study Edition. “Holy Week.” Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2011.
<3> The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.

ATC 11 Holy Week

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In his Palm Sunday homily, Pope Francis said, “May we reach out to those who are suffering and those most in need. May we not be concerned about what we lack, but what good we can do for others.” <1>

Welcome to All Things Catholic. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal, and I’m so glad you’re here! Together we are going to explore what it means to be Catholic. In today’s episode we’re going to the significance of Holy Week and the various liturgies common to the Catholic tradition.

This week the Christian world observes Holy Week, the week beginning with Palm Sunday when Jesus entered Jerusalem through his Passion and death and culminating on Easter Sunday. What is this week all about and what are all the liturgies that Catholics, for example, will celebrate this week despite the pandemic lockdown?

Well first, let’s define a few terms. What is worship? When I use the term “worship”, I mean the act of reverence and honor shown to God. For Christians, worship is rooted in Jesus Christ who alone gives God the fulness of reverence and honor.

The term “liturgy” comes from a Greek work that means “public work”. Liturgy in the context of Christian worship means the public act of worshiping God rooted in Christ Jesus. Back in 1947, Pope Pius XII describes Christian liturgy as the gathering of the Mystical Body of Christ in its entirety with Jesus Christ as the Head where the Son renders to the Father and where we, the community of believers, render to Christ as our founder and through Him to our Heavenly Father. <2>

That’s a mouthful, I know, but coming together as a community to worship is the central part of our faith, at least as Catholics. Private devotion and worship is good, but everything we do flows from our communal worship of Jesus Christ and through Christ to the Father. The culmination is Jesus present in the Eucharist is what gives meaning and relevance to the spiritual life. That’s why we describe the Eucharist as the source and summit of our faith. <3>

Now, everything I just described about worship and the liturgy comes to the fore during this most holy of all weeks. Let’s jump into then.

Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, which we just celebrated this past Sunday, most of us in isolation. Palm Sunday recalls when Jesus entered Jerusalem. The Gospel account according to Matthew 21:1-11 tells us how Jesus sent his disciples ahead to secure a donkey for him so that he can ride it into the city. Why a donkey instead of a horse? Well, a horse in the ancient world would have symbolized wartime strength whereas a donkey symbolized peace. Jesus enters Jerusalem as the Prince of Peace.

In the Scripture, people were waving palm branches as a way to cheer for Jesus. Think football scarves, foam fingers, noisemakers and other various novelties sports fans wave to cheer on their favorite teams. To this day almost 2,000 years later, Catholics mark the occasion of Jesus’ entrance to Jerusalem with palm leaves. Typically, we begin Palm Sunday outside the church building where the palms are distributed and blessed, and we hear the Gospel account of Jesus riding into Jerusalem. After this, there is a solemn procession of the faithful inside to continue the mass.

The next big event during Holy Week is the Chrism Mass – a huge gathering of believers including all the priests and deacons of the diocese and a large number of the consecrated religious men and women and the laity. Now, the instructions for this celebration say that it should take place on the morning of the Thursday before Easter, what we refer to as Holy Thursday. Why? Well we believe, (who’s we? Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans and other mainline Christian denominations), we believe that two very important things happen during the Last Supper on the Thursday before Easter: the institution of the Eucharist and the institution of the ministerial priesthood).

Since we believe the priesthood was instituted at the Last Supper, at the Chrism Mass, all the priests will renew their vows of service to Jesus Christ and submission to the bishop who we see as a modern-day apostle. So, the Church is renewed in a special way at the Chrism Mass. Now for practical reasons, this celebration can be moved. It can be difficult for all the priests and deacons to attend this mass and then get home in time to celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday evening. In my home diocese of Austin, the Chrism Mass is usually celebrated on the Tuesday morning of Holy Week.

During the Chrism Mass, all of the holy oils we use throughout the year are prepared and blessed. Any oils leftover from last year will generally be burned at the Easter Vigil on Saturday night. There is a long tradition in Scripture for anointing with holy oils. Today, the Catholic Church uses three Holy Oils: The Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick, and the Sacred Chism.

The Oil of Catechumens is used on those preparing to enter the Church and comes from the biblical idea of God’s anointing to fortify us in battle against evil, as in Psalm 45:8 or in Hebrews 1:9. The fruit of this oil is to enlighten us so that we can overcome falsehood, as in 1 John 2:27.

The Oil of the Sick traces its origin to Mark 6:13, “And they threw out many demons, and they anointed many sick people with oil and cured them.” James 5:14 gives witness to sacramental anointing of the sick.

The Sacred Chrism is an oil mixed with balsam which is a sweet perfume used since ancient times. Think of 2 Corinthians 2:15-16, when St. Paul describes Christians as, “Christ’s ‘sweet scent’ to God, among those who are being saved and among those who are being lost.”

The Sacred Chrism is used to consecrate, which means to spiritually separate, sanctify and purify. In other words, to dedicate people and churches and altars to God. The Sacred Chrism is used in baptism to consecrate new believers. We use it to consecrate altars, and it is used at the ordination of priests and bishops. In the notes, I’ll list many of the Scripture passages that reference consecration with oil, (see Genesis 28:18, Exodus 29:7, Exodus 30:25-29, Leviticus 8:12, Isaiah 61:1, 1 Samuel 10, 1 Kings 19:16, Luke 4:18).

Following the mass, the oils are distributed to all the parishes in the diocese. In the United States, the oils are formally received by the parishes during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. Let’s discuss the Mass of the Lord’s Supper.

The Thursday, Friday and Saturday before Easter are referred to as the Sacred Paschal Triduum. These days begin with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday reaching a highpoint in the Easter Vigil on Saturday night. These are the days that lead us to the empty tomb. And we formally bring these days of waiting to a close with evening prayer on Easter Sunday.

Ok, Thursday, Mass of the Lord’s Supper, we’ve already said that during this mass the parish will receive the Holy Oils. These oils will be brought up one at a time and presented to the pastor. While each oil is processed, there will be a brief explanation for each oil. Then generally, it’s mass as usual. Right after the homily, then the pastor will wash the feet of certain people selected ahead of time. Of course, this reenacts when Jesus washes the feat of his closest disciples at the Last Supper. But what this also reaffirms is that the entire purpose for the ministerial priesthood, the purpose of bishops and priests, is to serve the people of God. Jesus’ sacrifice is rooted in his love for us. So too the ministry of bishops and priests be rooted in love if their ministry is authentic.

The mass will proceed pretty much as normal except that at the Eucharist, the pastor will consecrate enough Eucharist not only for those at the mass, but also for those who will come on Friday. There are no masses anywhere in the world on Friday as we mark the day when Christ was so brutally murdered and left the world.

After everyone has received the Eucharist, the pastor will say the prayer after communion and then the clergy will take the remaining Eucharist and lead the people on a procession, perhaps to a chapel. In the chapel, the priest will lead the people in adoration of Jesus present in the Eucharist. Meanwhile the altar in the church is stripped bare. The faithful will be invited to remain with the Eucharist. At some time during the night, the Eucharist will be reserved.

On Good Friday, the faithful will gather, typically near the hour of 3pm when tradition tells us Christ died. The altar is still bare because the focus is on the cross. The narrative of the Lord’s Passion according to John (18:1 – 19:42) is proclaimed. After a brief homily, the priest or deacon will lead the assembly to pray the Solemn Intercessions – petitions we bring to God. Then the cross is processed in covered. At various points in the procession, part of the cross is revealed until at last it arrives at the front of the worship space. “Behold the wood of the Cross.” The faithful will be invited to venerate the cross – an act of humility honoring the fact that Jesus had to endure such a horrific death.

After the veneration of the Cross, a simple cloth will be placed on the altar, and the Eucharist from Thursday’s mass is brought in. The priest or deacon who processes the Eucharist in wears a special out vestment called a humeral veil. With the veil, the deacon or priest tries to shroud himself including his hands so that the focus is on Jesus present in the Eucharist. After the Lord’s prayer and communion, there are a few prayers and then everyone leaves in silence.

Notice, the mass on Thursday never formally ended, and since the Friday gathering is not a mass, there is no closing. Mass in fact will not end until the end of the Easter Vigil mass celebrated late in the night on Saturday. From Thursday through the Easter Vigil, the Church waits at the Lord’s tomb. We pray and we fast and we meditate on the Passion and Death of Jesus and his descent into Hell.

On Saturday before Easter, the congregation gathers outside the church building in the dark. A fire will be lit and the remainder of last year’s Holy Oils might be burned in the fire. The priest will bless this fire and prepare a new Paschal candle also known as the baptismal candle. The baptismal candle is a solitary white candle larger than most others in the church. It will be used throughout the Easter season, and at baptisms and funerals.

The Paschal candle is the lit from the fire blessed by the priest and it will process into the dark church. This is to symbolize the light of Christ coming into the world – the risen Christ dispelling the darkness. As the congregation enters the church, their smaller candles will be lit from the Paschal candle. The first part of this continuation of the mass takes place in the church which is only lit by these candles.

A lot happens during this mass. There is the Easter proclamation, which is an accounting of what’s happened, of Christ’s journey to the underworld and his triumphant return. Next, the community receives those who want to join the Church beginning with those to be baptized. But before there can be a baptism, the holy water, which has been emptied, must be blessed. Everyone is invited to renew their baptismal promises. Those being confirmed will be confirmed, and those receiving their first Holy Communion will do so first at communion.

The mass will proceed as normal and will finally come to a close hours after it began. The people leave joyous because Easter has come at last! We are sent into the world filled with love and peace to share the Good News of Jesus Christ because we are an Easter people and alleluia is our song!

I know this was a little longer than normal, but I hope it helped explain some of the ways that we keep Holy Week. It’s not about the Catholic Church. Through our liturgies and firmly rooted in the present, we look to the past and the future. We celebrate what God has already done for us in Christ and the Holy Spirit. We are drawn into the mystery of God’s saving action giving us a glimpse of the heavenly banquet. Easter is the heart of Christian faith, hope and love. So, as we continue on our Holy Week journey, I invite all of you, despite our isolation, to open our hearts and minds to the Word of God so that can be nourished and carry on our mission to bring others to Jesus Christ.

Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

You’re listening to All Things Catholic. This episode was produced by deacon rudy’s notes. Our theme music was composed by Silent Partner. You can find all sorts of helpful information on the website at www.deaconrudysnotes.org. I’m your host, Deacon Rudy Villarreal. Join us again next time and don’t forget to check out the weekend edition where we break open the Word. I wish all of you a most holy week and a joyous Easter! Peace!

Notes:

Celebration of Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis


<1> Francis, “Celebration of Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Homily of His Holiness,” April 5, 2020, https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-04/pope-palm-sunday-homily-full-text.html.
<2> Pius XII, Mediator Dei [1947], n. 20. See also the Second Vatican Council, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, n. 7.
<3> Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, n. 10.

References:
1. Francis. Vatican News. “Celebration of Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, Homily of His Holiness.” April 5, 2020. Accessed April 8, 2020, https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-04/pope-palm-sunday-homily-full-text.html.
2. Pius XII. Mediator Dei. Accessed April 8, 2020. Vatican.va.
3. Roman Missal, Study Edition. “Holy Week.” Collegeville, Minnesota: Liturgical Press, 2011.
4. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.
5. Vatican Council II. Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. Accessed April 8, 2020. Vatican.va.

Catechism References: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
1. Jesus’ ascent to Jerusalem, 557-58
2. Jesus’ messianic entrance into Jerusalem, 559-60
3. Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate, 571-91
4. Jesus died crucified, 595-97
5. All sinners were the authors of Christ’s Passion, 598
6. Jesus handed over, 599-600
7. Jesus died for our sins, 601-09
8. The Last Supper, 610-611
9. Agony at Gethsemane, 612
10. Christ’s death, 613-18
11. Christ was buried, 624-628
12. Jesus descended into hell and rose again, 631-35

Readings for Triduum:
1. Holy Thursday: http://cms.usccb.org/bible/readings/040920-lord-s-supper.cfm
2. Good Friday: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/041020.cfm
3. Holy Saturday: http://cms.usccb.org/bible/readings/041120.cfm

Palm Sunday 2020

Mass Readings

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At The Procession with Palms: Matthew 21:1-11
At The Mass: Isaiah 50:4-7
Responsorial: Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24
Second Reading: Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel: Matthew 26:14-27:66 OR 27:11-54

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040520.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/

Isn’t it strange to be entering Holy Week from our homes? Confession time: when I was a child and in particular when I was a younger parent with small children, I dreaded Palm Sunday! Next to the Easter Vigil, this was probably one of the longest masses ever! I always felt like everyone was watching us as we’d try to corral our children – get them to stop playing chase or climb tables or benches or swing from trees while we all stood outside during the first part of Palm Sunday mass.

And now, to celebrate with our parish via live stream, well it seems unreal. We don’t need palm leaves to worship God, but something about them helps make the Gospels come to life, right? Of course, coming to mass is not an individual matter. We gather as a community of believers, and that’s important to remember. It’s good and reassuring and supportive to our faith to see our church friends. That interaction I think helps ground us. You never know what you have until it’s gone.

In some small way, we in the West can now better relate to those Christians who are forbidden to gather for worship – those Christians who must worship in secret. I don’t mean to minimize their experience, but perhaps our experience of quarantine//social distancing/imposed isolation will help open us to the reality that some Christians who live under totalitarian regimes face and help us be better stewards of the freedom of religion – not the right to worship – but the freedom of religion that we hold so dear, and there is a difference.

But we must carry on, virtually as it were, to celebrate the return of the king! In today’s readings, Jesus makes his triumphant entrance to Jerusalem to the cheer of the crowd! He enters not a horse but, on a donkey, to symbolize that he is not a warrior king, but a king of peace. And the crowd goes nuts! You can almost hear them cheering and singing because their messiah has come at long last! They celebrate him by waving palm branches, and they lay their cloaks on the ground before his donkey. Can you see it in your mind? What an image!

But all too quickly, the readings shift. From the institution of the Eucharist to the crucifixion, we stand as helpless observers not able to change the course of events. We arrive at last to the gruesomeness of the crucifixion. Why? Why is it necessary to dwell on the crucifixion?

Scripture writers tell us that the nature of sin is like being stuck. The Original Sin so totally disoriented us that we could not be in alignment with the Father. There is no repentance, no act of valor that can bridge the gap. So, God decides to come himself. The very act of the Incarnation – when heaven touches earth – our world is remade holy. The Incarnation is the first light to cast away the darkness. This is the moment when Jesus, as we find in our second reading from Philippians, when Jesus, “emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness;…,” (Phil 2:7).

Try to absorb that. God – the creator of the universe and lord of all – became a human being just like you and just like me in every way except sin. That God would sully himself by becoming human is so offensive that Lucifer and his followers revolt against God. The Incarnation of Jesus shook the pillars of heaven and earth.

And yet, it’s not enough. Only his blood – only the blood of an innocent – would be enough to bridge the gap created by the Original Sin. Only his obedience, “to the point of death, even death on a cross,” (Phil 2:8), would be enough. We are an Easter people and alleluia is our song, but there is no resurrection without the crucifixion. It’s difficult for many to accept. Contemplating the horror, the scandal of the cross, to use Billy Graham’s words, causes many Christians to stumble, just like St. Paul tells us.

But my brothers and sisters, I have good news! The darkness that shrouds the crucifixion is chased away by the light at Easter. We are helpless bystanders watching this week as Jesus carries his cross to his death, but we look forward to Easter Sunday with great hope and joy! Perhaps this Easter will be the first in a long time when we as a Christian people focus on the meaning of the historic event of the resurrection. We are saved by the blood of Jesus shed on Good Friday and we rejoice at the resurrection when we bear witness to Jesus conquering death itself. We are saved in Christ Jesus.

So, as we begin Holy Week somber as it is, we honor Christ’s sacrifice for us so that we can rejoice with the community of believers on Easter Sunday! We are an Easter people and alleluia is our song!

Homework! Nourished by the Word of God and by Spiritual Communion, I ask you to reflect on the following two questions during this most holy of all weeks.

  1. Recall from the Gospel that when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken. What part of Jesus’ message challenges us most deeply?
  2. Picture yourself holding palms while standing along the side of the road. Picture yourself cheering as you lay your palms down for Jesus who is present the healthcare workers as they make their way to the hospital, or the first responders, or the farmers and laborers who keep the food coming, or the grocery store clerks or employees at the electric company, the water works, sanitation workers and all those who are keeping things moving during this pandemic.

I think that doing our homework this week challenges the roots of our discipleship and helps us see Jesus the servant king in the faces of those who help us persevere. Do you got it? Do you get it? Good! Now go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! +Amen!

References:
1. Barron, Robert. “Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion (April 5, 2020).” Message to Deacon Rudy Villarreal, et al. E-mail.
2. Hamm, Dennis. Philippians, Colossians, Philemon. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2013.
3. Houghton, Mike. “5th Sunday of Lent – March 29, 2020.” Homiletic & Pastoral Review, April 4, 2020. Accessed April 5, 2020, https://www.hprweb.com/2020/04/homilies-for-april-2020/.
4. Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.
5. Mitch, Curtis and Edward Sri. The Gospel of Matthew. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2010.
6. The Bible: A Study Bible freshly translated by Nicholas King. Buxhall, Suffolk UK: Kevin Mayhew, 2013.

Catechism References: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
1. Son of God, 441
2. Jesus the Lord, 201, 449
3. The Word become flesh, 461
4. Docetism, 465
5. Christ is God and man, 472, 602, 705, 713, 1224, 5812
6. Mary’s perpetual virginity, 500
7. Jesus as our model, 520
8. Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, 557-560
9. Jesus and the temple, 585-86
10. Jews not collectively responsible for Christ’s death, 597
11. The Passion of Christ, 602-618
12. The Last Supper, 610-11
13. Descent to the dead, 633
14. The Paschal Mystery and the liturgy, 654, 1067-68, 1085, 1362
15. Jesus institutes the Eucharist, 1337-44
16. The Eucharist, pledge of glory to come, 1403
17. Life in Christ, 1694, 2842/Prayer, 2641, 2667
18. Christ’s kingship gained through his death and Resurrection, 2816

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion
Mass Readings http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040520.cfm

At The Procession With Palms – Gospel 35 YEAR A
Matthew 21:1-11
When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem
and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives,
Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them,
“Go into the village opposite you,
and immediately you will find an ass tethered,
and a colt with her.
Untie them and bring them here to me.
And if anyone should say anything to you, reply,
‘The master has need of them.’
Then he will send them at once.”
This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet
might be fulfilled:
Say to daughter Zion,
“Behold, your king comes to you,
meek and riding on an ass,
and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.”
The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them.
They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them,
and he sat upon them.
The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,
while others cut branches from the trees
and strewed them on the road.
The crowds preceding him and those following
kept crying out and saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David;
blessed is the he who comes in the name of the Lord;
hosanna in the highest.”
And when he entered Jerusalem
the whole city was shaken and asked, “Who is this?”
And the crowds replied,
“This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee.”

At The Mass
Isaiah 50:4-7
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.

Responsorial
Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24.
R. (2a) My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
All who see me scoff at me;
they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads:
“He relied on the LORD; let him deliver him,
let him rescue him, if he loves him.”
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Indeed, many dogs surround me,
a pack of evildoers closes in upon me;
They have pierced my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
They divide my garments among them,
and for my vesture they cast lots.
But you, O LORD, be not far from me;
O my help, hasten to aid me.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
I will proclaim your name to my brethren;
in the midst of the assembly I will praise you:
“You who fear the LORD, praise him;
all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him;
revere him, all you descendants of Israel!”
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Second Reading
Philippians 2:6-11
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.

Verse Before The Gospel
Philippians 2:8-9
Christ became 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.

Gospel
Matthew 26:14—27:66 OR 27:11-54
One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,
went to the chief priests and said,
“What are you willing to give me
if I hand him over to you?”
They paid him thirty pieces of silver,
and from that time on he looked for an opportunity
to hand him over.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,
the disciples approached Jesus and said,
“Where do you want us to prepare
for you to eat the Passover?”
He said,
“Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,
‘The teacher says, “My appointed time draws near;
in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”’”
The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered,
and prepared the Passover.

When it was evening,
he reclined at table with the Twelve.
And while they were eating, he said,
“Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.”
Deeply distressed at this,
they began to say to him one after another,
“Surely it is not I, Lord?”
He said in reply,
“He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me
is the one who will betray me.
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.”
Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply,
“Surely it is not I, Rabbi?”
He answered, “You have said so.”

While they were eating,
Jesus took bread, said the blessing,
broke it, and giving it to his disciples said,
“Take and eat; this is my body.”
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying,
“Drink from it, all of you,
for this is my blood of the covenant,
which will be shed on behalf of many
for the forgiveness of sins.
I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine
until the day when I drink it with you new
in the kingdom of my Father.”
Then, after singing a hymn,
they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Then Jesus said to them,
“This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken,
for it is written:
I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed;
but after I have been raised up,
I shall go before you to Galilee.”
Peter said to him in reply,
“Though all may have their faith in you shaken,
mine will never be.”
Jesus said to him,
“Amen, I say to you,
this very night before the cock crows,
you will deny me three times.”
Peter said to him,
“Even though I should have to die with you,
I will not deny you.”
And all the disciples spoke likewise.

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,
and he said to his disciples,
“Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee,
and began to feel sorrow and distress.
Then he said to them,
“My soul is sorrowful even to death.
Remain here and keep watch with me.”
He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying,
“My Father, if it is possible,
let this cup pass from me;
yet, not as I will, but as you will.”
When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep.
He said to Peter,
“So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?
Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test.
The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again,
“My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass
without my drinking it, your will be done!”
Then he returned once more and found them asleep,
for they could not keep their eyes open.
He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time,
saying the same thing again.
Then he returned to his disciples and said to them,
“Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?
Behold, the hour is at hand
when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners.
Get up, let us go.
Look, my betrayer is at hand.”

While he was still speaking,
Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived,
accompanied by a large crowd, with swords and clubs,
who had come from the chief priests and the elders
of the people.
His betrayer had arranged a sign with them, saying,
“The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him.”
Immediately he went over to Jesus and said,
“Hail, Rabbi!” and he kissed him.
Jesus answered him,
“Friend, do what you have come for.”
Then stepping forward they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.
And behold, one of those who accompanied Jesus
put his hand to his sword, drew it,
and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his ear.
Then Jesus said to him,
“Put your sword back into its sheath,
for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.
Do you think that I cannot call upon my Father
and he will not provide me at this moment
with more than twelve legions of angels?
But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled
which say that it must come to pass in this way?”
At that hour Jesus said to the crowds,
“Have you come out as against a robber,
with swords and clubs to seize me?
Day after day I sat teaching in the temple area,
yet you did not arrest me.
But all this has come to pass
that the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled.”
Then all the disciples left him and fled.

Those who had arrested Jesus led him away
to Caiaphas the high priest,
where the scribes and the elders were assembled.
Peter was following him at a distance
as far as the high priest’s courtyard,
and going inside he sat down with the servants
to see the outcome.
The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin
kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus
in order to put him to death,
but they found none,
though many false witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward who stated,
“This man said, ‘I can destroy the temple of God
and within three days rebuild it.’”
The high priest rose and addressed him,
“Have you no answer?
What are these men testifying against you?”
But Jesus was silent.
Then the high priest said to him,
“I order you to tell us under oath before the living God
whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“You have said so.
But I tell you:
From now on you will see ‘the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of the Power’
and ‘coming on the clouds of heaven.’”
Then the high priest tore his robes and said,
“He has blasphemed!
What further need have we of witnesses?
You have now heard the blasphemy;
what is your opinion?”
They said in reply,
“He deserves to die!”
Then they spat in his face and struck him,
while some slapped him, saying,
“Prophesy for us, Christ: who is it that struck you?”
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard.
One of the maids came over to him and said,
“You too were with Jesus the Galilean.”
But he denied it in front of everyone, saying,
“I do not know what you are talking about!”
As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him
and said to those who were there,
“This man was with Jesus the Nazorean.”
Again he denied it with an oath,
“I do not know the man!”
A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter,
“Surely you too are one of them;
even your speech gives you away.”
At that he began to curse and to swear,
“I do not know the man.”
And immediately a cock crowed.
Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken:
“Before the cock crows you will deny me three times.”
He went out and began to weep bitterly.

When it was morning,
all the chief priests and the elders of the people
took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.
They bound him, led him away,
and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.

Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned,
deeply regretted what he had done.
He returned the thirty pieces of silver
to the chief priests and elders, saying,
“I have sinned in betraying innocent blood.”
They said,
“What is that to us?
Look to it yourself.”
Flinging the money into the temple,
he departed and went off and hanged himself.
The chief priests gathered up the money, but said,
“It is not lawful to deposit this in the temple treasury,
for it is the price of blood.”
After consultation, they used it to buy the potter’s field
as a burial place for foreigners.
That is why that field even today is called the Field of Blood.
Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah
the prophet,
And they took the thirty pieces of silver,
the value of a man with a price on his head,
a price set by some of the Israelites,
and they paid it out for the potter’s field
just as the Lord had commanded me.

Now Jesus stood before the governor, and he questioned him,
“Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus said, “You say so.”
And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders,
he made no answer.
Then Pilate said to him,
“Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?”
But he did not answer him one word,
so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Now on the occasion of the feast
the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd
one prisoner whom they wished.
And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.
So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them,
“Which one do you want me to release to you,
Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?”
For he knew that it was out of envy
that they had handed him over.
While he was still seated on the bench,
his wife sent him a message,
“Have nothing to do with that righteous man.
I suffered much in a dream today because of him.”
The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds
to ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus.
The governor said to them in reply,
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They answered, “Barabbas!”
Pilate said to them,
“Then what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?”
They all said,
“Let him be crucified!”
But he said,
“Why? What evil has he done?”
They only shouted the louder,
“Let him be crucified!”
When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all,
but that a riot was breaking out instead,
he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd,
saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.
Look to it yourselves.”
And the whole people said in reply,
“His blood be upon us and upon our children.”
Then he released Barabbas to them,
but after he had Jesus scourged,
he handed him over to be crucified.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium
and gathered the whole cohort around him.
They stripped off his clothes
and threw a scarlet military cloak about him.
Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head,
and a reed in his right hand.
And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying,
“Hail, King of the Jews!”
They spat upon him and took the reed
and kept striking him on the head.
And when they had mocked him,
they stripped him of the cloak,
dressed him in his own clothes,
and led him off to crucify him.

As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon;
this man they pressed into service
to carry his cross.

And when they came to a place called Golgotha
—which means Place of the Skull —,
they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall.
But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink.
After they had crucified him,
they divided his garments by casting lots;
then they sat down and kept watch over him there.
And they placed over his head the written charge against him:
This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
Two revolutionaries were crucified with him,
one on his right and the other on his left.
Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying,
“You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
save yourself, if you are the Son of God,
and come down from the cross!”
Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said,
“He saved others; he cannot save himself.
So he is the king of Israel!
Let him come down from the cross now,
and we will believe in him.
He trusted in God;
let him deliver him now if he wants him.
For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
The revolutionaries who were crucified with him
also kept abusing him in the same way.

From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land
until three in the afternoon.
And about three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”
which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Some of the bystanders who heard it said,
“This one is calling for Elijah.”
Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge;
he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed,
gave it to him to drink.
But the rest said,
“Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him.”
But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice,
and gave up his spirit.

And behold, the veil of the sanctuary
was torn in two from top to bottom.
The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened,
and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection,
they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus
feared greatly when they saw the earthquake
and all that was happening, and they said,
“Truly, this was the Son of God!”
There were many women there, looking on from a distance,
who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him.
Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph,
and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

When it was evening,
there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph,
who was himself a disciple of Jesus.
He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus;
then Pilate ordered it to be handed over.
Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linen
and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock.
Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb
and departed.
But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
remained sitting there, facing the tomb.

The next day, the one following the day of preparation,
the chief priests and the Pharisees
gathered before Pilate and said,
“Sir, we remember that this impostor while still alive said,
‘After three days I will be raised up.’
Give orders, then, that the grave be secured until the third day,
lest his disciples come and steal him and say to the people,
‘He has been raised from the dead.’
This last imposture would be worse than the first.”
Pilate said to them,
“The guard is yours;
go, secure it as best you can.”
So they went and secured the tomb
by fixing a seal to the stone and setting the guard.

or

Jesus stood before the governor, Pontius Pilate, who questioned him,
“Are you the king of the Jews?”
Jesus said, “You say so.”
And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders,
he made no answer.
Then Pilate said to him,
“Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?”
But he did not answer him one word,
so that the governor was greatly amazed.

Now on the occasion of the feast
the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd
one prisoner whom they wished.
And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.
So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them,
“Which one do you want me to release to you,
Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?”
For he knew that it was out of envy
that they had handed him over.
While he was still seated on the bench,
his wife sent him a message,
“Have nothing to do with that righteous man.
I suffered much in a dream today because of him.”
The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds
to ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus.
The governor said to them in reply,
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”
They answered, “Barabbas!”
Pilate said to them,
“Then what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?”
They all said,
“Let him be crucified!”
But he said,
“Why? What evil has he done?”
They only shouted the louder,
“Let him be crucified!”
When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all,
but that a riot was breaking out instead,
he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd,
saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.
Look to it yourselves.”
And the whole people said in reply,
“His blood be upon us and upon our children.”
Then he released Barabbas to them,
but after he had Jesus scourged,
he handed him over to be crucified.

Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium
and gathered the whole cohort around him.
They stripped off his clothes
and threw a scarlet military cloak about him.
Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head,
and a reed in his right hand.
And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying,
“Hail, King of the Jews!”
They spat upon him and took the reed
and kept striking him on the head.
And when they had mocked him,
they stripped him of the cloak,
dressed him in his own clothes,
and led him off to crucify him.

As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon;
this man they pressed into service
to carry his cross.

And when they came to a place called Golgotha
— which means Place of the Skull —,
they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall.
But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink.
After they had crucified him,
they divided his garments by casting lots;
then they sat down and kept watch over him there.
And they placed over his head the written charge against him:
This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
Two revolutionaries were crucified with him,
one on his right and the other on his left.
Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying,
“You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,
save yourself, if you are the Son of God,
and come down from the cross!”
Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said,
“He saved others; he cannot save himself.
So he is the king of Israel!
Let him come down from the cross now,
and we will believe in him.
He trusted in God;
let him deliver him now if he wants him.
For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’”
The revolutionaries who were crucified with him
also kept abusing him in the same way.

From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land
until three in the afternoon.
And about three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?”
which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Some of the bystanders who heard it said,
“This one is calling for Elijah.”
Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge;
he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed,
gave it to him to drink.
But the rest said,
‘Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him.”
But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice,
and gave up his spirit.

And behold, the veil of the sanctuary
was torn in two from top to bottom.
The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened,
and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection,
they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus
feared greatly when they saw the earthquake
and all that was happening, and they said,
“Truly, this was the Son of God!”