Matt 27:11-54
The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (Shorter version)
Key: N. Narrator. ✠ Jesus. O. Other single speaker. C. Crowd, or more than one speaker.
N. Jesus, then, was brought before the governor, and the governor put to him this question:
O. Are you the king of the Jews?
N. Jesus replied,
✠ It is you who say it.
N. But when he was accused by the chief priests and the elders he refused to answer at all. Pilate then said to him,
O. Do you not hear how many charges they have brought against you?
N. But to the governor’s complete amazement, he offered no reply to any of the charges.
At festival time it was the governor’s practice to release a prisoner for the people, anyone they chose. Now there was at that time a notorious prisoner whose name was Barabbas. So when the crowd gathered, Pilate said to them,
O. Which do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?
N. For Pilate knew it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. Now as he was seated in the chair of judgement, his wife sent him a message,
O. Have nothing to do with that man; I have been upset all day by a dream I had about him.
N. The chief priests and the elders, however, had persuaded the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus. So when the governor spoke and asked them,
O. Which of the two do you want me to release for you?
N. they said,
C. Barabbas.
N. Pilate said to them:
O. But in that case, what am I to do with Jesus who is called Christ?
N. They all said:
C. Let him be crucified!
N. Pilate asked:
O. Why? What harm has he done?
N. But they shouted all the louder,
C. Let him be crucified!
N. Then Pilate saw that he was making no impression, that in fact a riot was imminent. So he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd and said,
O. I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your concern.
N. And the people, to a man, shouted back,
C. His blood be on us and on our children!
N. Then he released Barabbas for them. He ordered Jesus to be first scourged and then handed over to be crucified.
The governor’s soldiers took Jesus with them into the Praetorium and collected the whole cohort round him. Then they stripped him and made him wear a scarlet cloak, and having twisted some thorns into a crown they put this on his head and placed a reed in his right hand. To make fun of him they knelt to him saying,
C. Hail, king of the Jews!
N. And they spat on him and took the reed and struck him on the head with it. And when they had finished making fun of him, they took off the cloak and dressed him in his own clothes and led him away to crucify him.
On their way out, they came across a man from Cyrene, Simon by name, and enlisted him to carry his cross. When they had reached a place called Golgotha, that is, the place of the skull, they gave him wine to drink mixed with gall, which he tasted but refused to drink. When they had finished crucifying him they shared out his clothing by casting lots, and then sat down and stayed there keeping guard over him.
Above his head was placed the charge against him; it read: ‘This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.’ At the same time two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.
The passers-by jeered at him; they shook their heads and said,
C. So you would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days! Then save yourself! If you are God’s son, come down from the cross!
N. The chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him in the same way, saying:
C. He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the king of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He puts his trust in God; now let God rescue him if he wants him. For he did say, ‘I am the son of God.’
N. Even the robbers who were crucified with him taunted him in the same way.
From the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour, Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
✠ Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?
N. That is, ‘My God, my God, why have you deserted me?’ When some of those who stood there heard this, they said,
C. The man is calling on Elijah.
N. and one of them quickly ran to get a sponge which he dipped in vinegar and, putting it on a reed, gave it him to drink. The rest of them said:
C. Wait! See if Elijah will come to save him.
N. But Jesus, again crying out in a loud voice, yielded up his spirit.
(Here all kneel and pause for a short time.)
At that, the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth quaked; the rocks were split; the tombs opened and the bodies of many holy men rose from the dead, and these, after his resurrection, came out of the tombs, entered the Holy City and appeared to a number of people. Meanwhile the centurion, together with the others guarding Jesus, had seen the earthquake and all that was taking place, and they were terrified and said,
C. In truth this was a son of God
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Copyright © 1996-2021 Universalis Publishing Limited: see
www.universalis.com.
Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.
Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). All rights reserved.
Prayers of Intercession
For Pope Francis who has recently been in hospital with a lung infection.
May God give him the good health and strength to continue the path of synodality as he seeks to unite the global church into the loving harmony so wished for by Jesus.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For world leaders and all those with responsibilities in politics and business.
We pray for a closer international understanding by those in power to establish just and fair practices for promoting the health and well-being of everyone and for a greater care for the environment.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For all those who are joining our faith community this Easter or who are meeting the risen Lord in the reception of various sacraments.
We pray especially for
Natasha, Lennon, Alfie and baby Maisie who will be received into the community at the Easter Vigil and for those who are being confirmed at the same time:
Francesco, Cristian, Antonio, Rosaria, Hannah, Meghan, Justin, Simon and Brendan.
May they grow daily in their love of God and their care for their neighbour.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For ourselves as we enter Holy Week leading up to Easter. As we accompany the Lord into his passion and death, let us be conscious of the love and forgiveness which he has shown us. And let us strive to pass this same love and forgiveness on to others.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We ask that God would comfort those who are suffering in mind, body and spirit, and all those who have asked for prayers from the Prayer Foundation.
We pray that the Lord will send loving and caring friends to comfort them in their hour of need.
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We call to mind those who have died recently especially
Paul Igoe and Flordelina Ramirez, and those whose anniversaries occur at this time of year.
We remember the families and friends of those who have died, asking that they be comforted with Jesus’ words: “I am the resurrection and the life.”
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.
We will now say the Missionary Prayer together.
