In this week's edition of There's more in the Sunday Gospel than meets the eye,
Jill Bevilacqua and Seàn-Patrick Lovett bring us readings and reflections for Passion
and Palm Sunday. Listen:
GospelLk 23: 1-49
The elders of the people,
chief priests and scribes,arose and brought Jesus before Pilate.They brought charges
against him, saying,“We found this man misleading our people; he opposes the payment
of taxes to Caesar and maintains that he is the Christ, a king.”Pilate asked him,
“Are you the king of the Jews?”He said to him in reply, “You say so.”Pilate then addressed
the chief priests and the crowds, “I find this man not guilty.”But they were adamant
and said, “He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea,from Galilee
where he began even to here.”On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean;
and upon learning that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction,he sent him to Herod who
was in Jerusalem at that time.Herod was very glad to see Jesus; he had been wanting
to see him for a long time,for he had heard about him and had been hoping to see him
perform some sign.He questioned him at length,but he gave him no answer.The chief
priests and scribes, meanwhile,stood by accusing him harshly.Herod and his soldiers
treated him contemptuously and mocked him,and after clothing him in resplendent garb,
he sent him back to Pilate.Herod and Pilate became friends that very day, even though
they had been enemies formerly.Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers,
and the people and said to them, “You brought this man to meand accused him of inciting
the people to revolt.I have conducted my investigation in your presence and have not
found this man guilty of the charges you have brought against him, nor did Herod,
for he sent him back to us.So no capital crime has been committed by him.Therefore
I shall have him flogged and then release him.”But all together they shouted out,
“Away with this man!Release Barabbas to us.”— Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for
a rebellion that had taken place in the city and for murder. —Again Pilate addressed
them, still wishing to release Jesus,but they continued their shouting,“Crucify him!
Crucify him!”Pilate addressed them a third time,“What evil has this man done?I found
him guilty of no capital crime.Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release
him.”With loud shouts, however,they persisted in calling for his crucifixion,and their
voices prevailed.The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted.So
he released the man who had been imprisonedfor rebellion and murder, for whom they
asked,and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.As they led him
awaythey took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country;
and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus.A large crowd
of people followed Jesus, including many women who mourned and lamented him.Jesus
turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep instead
for yourselves and for your children for indeed, the days are coming when people will
say, ‘Blessed are the barren,the wombs that never boreand the breasts that never nursed.’At
that time people will say to the mountains,‘Fall upon us!’and to the hills, ‘Cover
us!’for if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is
dry?”Now two others, both criminals,were led away with him to be executed.When they
came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him and the criminals there, one
on his right, the other on his left.Then Jesus said,“Father, forgive them, they know
not what they do.”They divided his garments by casting lots.The people stood by and
watched; the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said, “He saved others, let him
save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.”Even the soldiers jeered
at him.As they approached to offer him wine they called out,“If you are King of the
Jews, save yourself.”Above him there was an inscription that read, “This is the King
of the Jews.”Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,“Are you
not the Christ?Save yourself and us.”The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,“Have
you no fear of God,for you are subject to the same condemnation?And indeed, we have
been condemned justly,for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but
this man has done nothing criminal.”Then he said,“Jesus, remember me when you come
into your kingdom.”He replied to him,“Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me
in Paradise.”It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole landuntil three
in the afternoonbecause of an eclipse of the sun.Then the veil of the temple was torn
down the middle.Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commend
my spirit”; and when he had said this he breathed his last. Here all kneel and pause
for a short time.The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said,“This
man was innocent beyond doubt.”When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle
saw what had happened,they returned home beating their breasts;but all his acquaintances
stood at a distance, including the women who had followed him from Galilee and saw
these events.