Transcript Welcome to our Bible Study

Welcome to our Bible Study
Palm Sunday A
April 13, 2014
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM
1st reading: Isaiah 50,4-7
God’s goodness to the suffering servant
 4 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;
Active non-resistance
 5 and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. 6 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.
God’s goodness to the suffering servant
 7 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.
The focus is on the ability to face sufferings.
1st reading: Isaiah 50,4-7
God’s goodness to the
suffering servant
 4 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;
Active non-resistance to
violence
 5 and I have not rebelled, have
not turned back. 6 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.
God’s goodness to the
suffering servant
 7 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.
Commentary
 The reading is one of the suffering
servant’s songs.
 The servant speaks in the first person.
 In v.4, he mentions the gifts that make
him prepared to embrace sufferings.
 His gifts from God are:
– A well-trained tongue (ability to console
and encourage)
– Open ears (updated with everyday events,
knowledge and wisdom)

In vv.5-6, the servant describes his
behavior.
–
–
–
–
I have not rebelled
I have not turned back
I gave my back… to those who beat me
I gave my cheeks… from those who
plucked my beard
– I did not shield my face.. From buffets and
spitting.
1st reading: Isaiah 50,4-7
God’s goodness to the
suffering servant
 4 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;
Active non-resistance to
violence
 5 and I have not rebelled, have
not turned back. 6 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.
God’s goodness to the
suffering servant
 7 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.

Truly the suffering servant
has submitted himself to
violence, without running
away from it, or, taking
vengeance.

In v.7, the servant
acknowledges God as a big
help. He acknowledges he is
not disgraced (disintegrated,
lost self-confidence).
– I have set my face like flint
(hard- like rock).
– He is not put to shame.
Reflections on the
st
1
reading
What is the wisdom in embracing sufferings?
 What is the purpose of not resisting people who
make us suffer?
 Why don’t we fight back?

We are called to take hold of ourselves, to be
strong in times of trouble and provocations, to
be men and women standing tall, not behaving
like immature or people with a sick mind.
 To be true servants, we must die as heroes.

2nd reading: Philippians 2,6-11
The God-Christ (state of being)
 6 Though he was in the form of God, did not regard
equality with God something to be grasped.
The Christ-Man (state of becoming)
 7 Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness; and found human in
appearance, 8 he humbled himself, becoming obedient
to death, even death on a cross.
The Christ-Lord God (state of becoming and being)
 9 Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed
on him the name that is above every name, 10 that at
the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every
tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of
God the Father.
The focus is on the emptying of Jesus.
2nd reading: Philippians 2,6-11
The God-Christ
 6 Though he was in the form of
God, did not regard equality with
God something to be grasped.
The Christ-Man
 7 Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave, coming
in human likeness; and found
human in appearance, 8 he
humbled himself, becoming
obedient to death, even death on a
cross.
The Christ-Lord God
 9 Because of this, God greatly
exalted him and bestowed on him
the name that is above every
name, 10 that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bend, of
those in heaven and on earth and
under the earth, 11 and every
tongue confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.
Commentary
 The passage is about the
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emptying of Christ and as a
result, his exaltation.
Jesus, as God, does not
remain in his Godship.
Christ does not stay enjoying
his being divine. V.6
He decides to become like us.
In v.7, Christ empties himself
(kenosis) of his being God
(while remaining God)
– Becoming a slave (servant), not
a landowner, a slave driver, a
boss, not even just an ordinary
citizen
– He moves from the form of God
to the form of a human.
nd
2
reading: Philippians 2,6-11
The God-Christ
 6 Though he was in the form of
God, did not regard equality with
God something to be grasped.
The Christ-Man
 7 Rather, he emptied himself, taking
the form of a slave, coming in
human likeness; and found human
in appearance, 8 he humbled
himself, becoming obedient to
death, even death on a cross.
The Christ-Lord God
 9 Because of this, God greatly
exalted him and bestowed on him
the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bend, of those in
heaven and on earth and under the
earth, 11 and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of God the Father.
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In v.8, Jesus consciously
humbles himself as a
slave.
He shows humility by
obeying God to death.
He dies on a cross, like a
criminal.
He embraces the most
cruel, most tragic, most
humiliating way to die,
dying without dignity,
without glory and honor,
without identity.
2nd reading: Philippians 2,6-11
The God-Christ
 6 Though he was in the form of
God, did not regard equality with
God something to be grasped.
The Christ-Man
 7 Rather, he emptied himself, taking
the form of a slave, coming in
human likeness; and found human
in appearance, 8 he humbled
himself, becoming obedient to
death, even death on a cross.
The Christ-Lord God
 9 Because of this, God greatly
exalted him and bestowed on him
the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every
knee should bend, of those in
heaven and on earth and under the
earth, 11 and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory
of God the Father.

V.9 reverses everything that has
happened to Jesus.
 Because of his total emptying,
total submission and obedience,
not withholding anything for
himself, he became totally
nothing, worthless, (not even a
basura)
 God now greatly exalts him, puts
him in the highest pedestal and
bestows on him a great name,
above all other names.
 At the mention of his name,
– Every knee bends
– Every tongue confesses
– AMGD

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Christ is now greatly exalted.
No one is more highly exalted
than Christ.
Reflections on the
nd
2
reading

To gain honor, one must first do the supreme act
of humility.
 To gain God’s favor, we must empty (kenosis)
ourselves of titles, authority and security (all those
garbage!).

We must appear naked before the Lord, without
defenses and pretensions.
 We must be willing to expose our vulnerability
without feeling ashamed.
 Are you ashamed of yourself?
Gospel reading: Matthew 26,14—27,66

14 Then one
of the Twelve,
who was
called Judas
Iscariot, went
to the chief
priests 15 and
said, "What
are you willing
to give me if I
hand him over
to you?" They
paid him thirty
pieces of
silver, 16 and
from that time
on he looked
for an
opportunity to
hand him over.
The Traitor
 Judas Iscariot, the treasurer, is a traitor of
Jesus.
 He betrays Jesus by going to the chief
priests.
– In the olden times, if you have a friend and if
he goes to your enemy, he becomes your
traitor.
– Surely he will say or reveal something about
you for your enemies’ advantage.
Judas exchanges Jesus with 30 pieces of
silver (makes Jesus a commodity).
 It is the compensation paid to a slave owner,
whose slave is gorged by an ox (Ex 21,32).
 He makes a little money out of the anger of
the chief priests.
 In return, he will submit to their demand, to
facilitate the capture of Jesus.

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17 On the first day of the The Passover Feast
 In the feast, they eat the Passover
Feast of Unleavened
meal.
Bread, the disciples
 The Passover celebrates the
approached Jesus and
liberation of the Israelites from the
said, "Where do you want
oppression in Egypt.
 As the Israelites poised “to escape,”
us to prepare for you to
there was no time to let the dough
eat the Passover?" 18 He
rise.
said, "Go into the city to a  It is celebrated in a house.
certain man and tell him,
– They prepare different kinds of food
symbolizing their sufferings,
'The teacher says, "My
oppression and liberation.
appointed time draws
– They eat them in the context of story
near; in your house I shall
telling of their liberation from Egypt.
 In v.18, Jesus commands them to
celebrate the Passover
prepare for the Passover.
with my disciples." 19 The
disciples then did as Jesus  In v.19, the disciples obey.
had ordered, and prepared
the Passover.

20 When it was evening, he
reclined at table with the Twelve.
21 And while they were eating,
he said, "Amen, I say to you,
one of you will betray me." 22
Deeply distressed at this, they
began to say to him one after
another, "Surely it is not I,
Lord?" 23 He said in reply, "He
who has dipped his hand into the
dish with me is the one who will
betray me. 24 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." 25 Then Judas, his
betrayer, said in reply, "Surely it
is not I, Rabbi?" He answered,
"You have said so."
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The Passover starts at about 6
PM, at sundown.
At table, while eating, Jesus
suddenly informs everyone about
his betrayal.
He picks up the topic of the
beginning of the passion narrative
in v.14.
The disciples react and deny.
They are not traitors.
In v.23, Jesus still speaks in
parables. He does not directly
identify his betrayer.
V.24 pronounces doom to his
traitor. Better for him not to have
been born.
V. 25 informs us that Judas is the
betrayer, but Judas also denies he
will betray Jesus.
Jesus insists he is the traitor.

26 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." 27
Then he took a cup, gave
thanks, and gave it to
them, saying, "Drink from
it, all of you, 28 for this
is my blood of the
covenant, which will be
shed on behalf of many
for the forgiveness of
sins.
The Eucharist
 In v.26, the story goes back to the
Passover in which Jesus institutes
the Holy Eucharist.
 The institution of the Holy Eucharist
takes place in the context of the
Jewish Passover Meal.
 Why does Jesus say, “Take and eat;
this is my body… Drink, this is my
blood.”
 It is a mystery.
 Here the blood of Christ has a
special treatment.
 It is the blood of the new covenant.
The old one was sealed at Mt. Sinai
with the blood of animals.
 The eucharist is for the forgiveness
of sins.

29 I tell you, from now on I
Mount of Olives
shall not drink this fruit of the  After the last Supper, Jesus
and his disciples go to the
vine until the day when I
Mount of Olives, a good
drink it with you new in the
walking distance from
kingdom of my Father." 30
Jerusalem.
Then, after singing a hymn,
 There Jesus predicts that
they went out to the Mount
their faith will be shaken
and they will be dispersed.
of Olives. 31 Then Jesus said
to them, "This night all of you  They will be shepherdless,
without a leader, without a
will have your faith in me
voice.
shaken, for it is written: 'I will  The disciples will have no
strike the shepherd, and the
direction.
sheep of the flock will be
 Jesus also predicts his
dispersed'; 32 but after I
resurrection (and
ascension).
have been raised up, I shall
go before you to Galilee."

33 Peter said to him
in reply, "Though all
may have their faith
in you shaken, mine
will never be." 34
Jesus said to him,
"Amen, I say to
you, this very night
before the cock
crows, you will deny
me three times."
35 Peter said to
him, "Even though I
should have to die
with you, I will not
deny you." And all
the disciples spoke
likewise.
Peter grandstands, ”My faith
will not be shaken.”
 Because of this, Jesus predicts
his (Peter’s) denial.
 Peter assures of his faith.
 In v.34, Jesus reacts to Peter,
predicting he will deny him
three times before sunrise.
 In v.35, Peter denies that he
will deny Jesus.
 Peter again assures of his
loyalty, also the other disciples.
 Peter will deny Jesus to
preserve himself.
 Denial is used to preserve
oneself.
 It is easy to promise not to
deny.
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36 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." 37 He took along
Peter and the two sons of
Zebedee, and began to
feel sorrow and distress.
38 Then he said to them,
"My soul is sorrowful even
to death. Remain here and
keep watch with me." 39
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."
Jesus prays
 Gethsemane is on the Mt. of
Olives.
 Jesus prays there.
 He is accompanied by Peter and 2
sons of Zebedee. V.37
 Jesus becomes depressed.
 In v.38, Jesus invites them to be
with him in his prayer.
 V.39 indicates his posture of
prayer (He prostrates).
 Jesus prays to his Father, asking
that his cup (of suffering) may pass
from him.

Yet, Jesus states his willingness to
comply with God’s will.

40 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? 41 Watch and
pray that you may not
undergo the test. The
spirit is willing, but the
flesh is weak." 42
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!"

In v.40, Jesus returns to his
disciples for the first time (to
check what they are doing) but they
are asleep.

Supposedly they are drunk
because of the 4 cups of wine
at the Passover (Last Supper).

Jesus addresses himself to Peter.

He challenges him to pray with
him for an hour.
 In verse 41, Jesus encourages
Peter to pray to overcome
temptations.
 In v.42, Jesus goes back to his
former place to pray.
 He repeats his prayer in v.39.
He is willing to do the will of
God as he taught in the “Our
Father.”

43 Then he returned
once more and found
them asleep, for they
could not keep their
eyes open. 44 He left
them and withdrew
again and prayed a
third time, saying the
same thing again. 45
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. 46 Get up, let
us go. Look, my
betrayer is at hand."
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Jesus returns again to his disciples,
who are in deep sleep.
He does not disturb them.
He goes back to pray again.
In v.45, he returns again for the last
time to his disciples.
He has finished praying.
This time, Jesus questions them
again for they are still sleeping.

Now they should be awake because the
hour of his betrayal has come.

They should not miss the action.
They should be able to witness the
highpoint of his life of supreme sacrifice.
In v.46, Jesus now compels them to
move.
Now is the action.
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The Betrayal and arrest
47 While he was still
speaking, Judas, one of the  True enough, Judas arrives
Twelve, arrived,
with a large crowd armed
accompanied by a large
with weapons.
crowd, with swords and
clubs, who had come from
 They are sent by the chief
the chief priests and the
priests and elders, the
elders of the people. 48 His
highest officials of the land.
betrayer had arranged a
sign with them, saying, "The  In vv.48-49, Judas informs
man I shall kiss is the one;
of his “password.”
arrest him." 49 Immediately
he went over to Jesus and
– He will betray Jesus with a
said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and he
kiss.
kissed him. 50 Jesus
 In v.50, Jesus allows him to
answered him, "Friend, do
complete his “mission.”
what you have come for."
Then stepping forward they  Now Jesus is in the hands of
laid hands on Jesus and
the crowd.
arrested him.
Jesus’ companion, maybe a
sympathizer, not necessarily an
apostle, has a sword.
 He is not disarmed.
 Why is he allowed to carry the
sword as he accompanies Jesus?
 Maybe he is not a threat to the
mob.
 Jesus’ companion becomes
violent and he cuts off the ear of
the high priest’s servant.
 In v.52, Jesus rebukes him,
warning him, “violence will be
met with violence.”
 “Don’t begin the spiral of
violence.”
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51 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. 52
Then Jesus said to him,
"Put your sword back into
its sheath, for all who
take the sword will perish
by the sword. 53 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?

54 But then how
would the scriptures
be fulfilled which say
that it must come to
pass in this way?"
55 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. 56 But all this
has come to pass
that the writings of
the prophets may be
fulfilled.“ Then all
the disciples left him
and fled.
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Jesus sees the danger of being
violent.
God’s plan may not be fulfilled.
His violent death may be aborted.
In v.55, Jesus also rebukes the
crowd because of their violent
posture, whereas before they were
listening to him when he was
teaching.
In v.56, Jesus interprets these
things as fulfilling the prophets.
The drama of salvation must go on
as predicted by the prophets.
At this moment, the disciples veer
away from him (for fear of their
lives).
At this point, Jesus is all alone.

57 Those who had
arrested Jesus led him
away to Caiaphas the
high priest, where the
scribes and the elders
were assembled. 58
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. 59 The chief
priests and the entire
Sanhedrin kept trying
to obtain false
testimony against Jesus
in order to put him to
death,
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The arresting officers bring him to
Caiaphas, the high priest.
The high priest is the leader of the group
of chief priests, who not only governs the
Temple precincts and services, but also
the temporal affairs of the nation
(diplomacy and judiciary).
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The group is called Sanhedrin.
In v.58, Peter follows at the distance (like
Nicodemus in John).
In v.59, the chief priests and the entire
Sanhedrin seek reasons / excuses to put
Jesus to death.
For them it is OK to have false witnesses.
There was malice in the arrest of Jesus.
They want to kill him by hook or by
crook.
They simply want to waste the life of this
man, whose teachings disturb them.

60 but they found none,
though many false
witnesses came forward.
Finally two came forward
61 who stated, "This man
said, 'I can destroy the
temple of God and within
three days rebuild it.'" 62
The high priest rose and
addressed him, "Have you
no answer? What are these
men testifying against
you?" 63 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 Messiah, the Son of
God." 64 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.'"
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Now, they find two false witnesses and
they take them seriously.
They testify against him, using a fantastic
accusation.
They misinterpret his statement, when he
was cleaning up the Temple.
The Temple he was referring to was his
body.
The trial of Jesus is a farce from the start.
Jesus is not interested to answer. He is
quiet. V.63.
Now the high priest asks him to declare
under oath (to say the truth, otherwise he
will be accused of perjury):
– That he is the Messiah, the Son of God.
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Jesus claims it is the high priest, who has
said so. He does not deny.
He claims he is the Son of Man… (the title
addressed only to the apocalyptic man,
who will come to judge the world.)
They hear what they don’t want to hear.
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65 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; 66 what is
your opinion?" They said
in reply, "He deserves to
die!" 67 Then they spat
in his face and struck
him, while some slapped
him, 68 saying,
"Prophesy for us,
Messiah: who is it that
struck you?"
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The high priest accuses him of
blasphemy.
Jesus incriminates himself.
In v.67, begins the physical and
psychological violence on Jesus.
They play a sport out of him.
(violation of human rights).
There were no human rights
group yet during the time of
Jesus.
Nowadays, we have more
sophisticated (complicated)
justice system, which makes it
difficult to convict the guilty and
release the innocent.

69 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." 70 But he
denied it in front of
everyone, saying, "I do
not know what you are
talking about!" 71 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."
72 Again he denied it
with an oath, "I do not
know the man!"
Peter’s Denials
 The author goes back to Peter.
 He is last mentioned in v.58.
 The maid recognizes him, but he
denies he was with Jesus.
– He does not know the man. (He
misses his opportunity to make
good of his promise in vv. 33 and
35 at Last Supper).

Another girl recognizes him, but he
denies it just the same.
– Again, he gets worse. He denies it
with an oath.
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Peter is also under trial.
He does not know how to react.
He is not so different from Judas
Iscariot who betrayed him.
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73 A little later the bystanders
came over and said to Peter,
"Surely you too are one of
them; even your speech gives
you away." 74 At that he
began to curse and to swear,
"I do not know the man." And
immediately a cock crowed.
75 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.
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For the third time, he is identified
as having been with Jesus.
Peter becomes worst. He curses,
sticking to his denials.
At this, a cock crows.
Peter remembers what Jesus told
him.
He has been foolish all the time.
He pretends to be strong, yet in
trial, he is weak.
Self-preservation is more
important than solidarity with
Jesus.
The consequence: Peter feels bad
about himself.
He is a coward.
He is not the man he claims to be.
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27:1 When it was
morning, all the chief
priests and the elders of
the people took counsel
against Jesus to put him
to death. 2 They bound
him, led him away, and
handed him over to Pilate,
the governor. 3 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, 4 saying, "I have
sinned in betraying
innocent blood." They
said, "What is that to us?
Look to it yourself." 5
Flinging the money into
the temple, he departed
and went off and hanged
himself.
Next day, the leaders busy themselves
with putting Jesus to death.
 They bring Jesus to Pilate, the governor
(procurator).
Judas regrets, but it’s too late
 In v.3, Judas appears again, regretting
what he has done.
 He is not happy.
 He returns the 30 pieces of silver to the
leaders.
 But it does not reverse the decision of
the leaders.
 His realization that he betrayed an
innocent man does not do any good to
Jesus.
 The leaders do not help him.
 They just used him.
 They are not interested in their money
back and releasing Jesus, but pursuing
the death of Jesus.
 In v.5, Judas loses everything (Jesus,
money, leaders) including his life.
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6 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." 7 After
consultation, they used it to
buy the potter's field as a
burial place for foreigners. 8
That is why that field even
today is called the Field of
Blood. 9 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, 10
and they paid it out for the
potter's field just as the Lord
had commanded me."
The Blood Money
 Here in vv. 6-7, the leaders
decide to use the money for
the burial site for foreigners.
 They don’t want to keep it in
the Temple treasury. It is
blood money.
 It became blood money
through their own fault.
 Their decision incidentally
fulfills a prophecy from
Jeremiah.
 This is problematic in
Matthew because his claim
does not appear in the book
of Jeremiah.
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11 Now Jesus stood
before the governor, and
he questioned him, "Are
you the king of the
Jews?" Jesus said, "You
say so."
13 Then Pilate said to
him, "Do you not hear
how many things they are
testifying against you?"
14 But he did not answer
him one word, so that the
governor was greatly
amazed.
Before Governor Pilate
 Now the scene is with Pilate.
 Pilate has a different question: Are
you the king of the Jews?
 It is more of a political question.
 Jesus’ way of answering is the
same. “You say so.”
 Pilate asks if Jesus is aware of the
many (false) testimonies against
him.
 Jesus is quiet.
 He does not entertain him.

15 Now on the occasion of the
feast the governor was
accustomed to release to the
crowd one prisoner whom they
wished. 16 And at that time
they had a notorious prisoner
called (Jesus) Barabbas. 17 So
when they had assembled,
Pilate said to them, "Which
one do you want me to release
to you, (Jesus) Barabbas, or
Jesus called Messiah?" 18 For
he knew that it was out of
envy that they had handed
him over. 19 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."
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Pilate does not intend to kill
Jesus.
He suggests to release him
taking advantage of the
occasion (Passover).
He hopes people would
choose to release him,
instead of Barabbas.
He knows the reasons why
they want to kill him. (envy,
v.18)
V.19 adds more reason that
Jesus should be released.
– Pilate’s wife had a bad dream
because of him.

20 The chief priests and
the elders persuaded the
crowds to ask for
Barabbas but to destroy
Jesus. 21 The governor
said to them in reply,
"Which of the two do you
want me to release to
you?" They answered,
"Barabbas!" 22 Pilate
said to them, "Then what
shall I do with Jesus
called Messiah?" They all
said, "Let him be
crucified!" 23 But he
said, "Why? What evil has
he done?" They only
shouted the louder, "Let
him be crucified!"
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The leaders persuade people
to release Barabbas instead
of Jesus.
People clamor to crucify
Jesus.
Crucifixion was used by the
Romans as a form of capital
punishment for convicted
criminals as a deterrent to
those who are planning to
do crimes.

24 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." 25
And the whole
people said in reply,
"His blood be upon
us and upon our
children."
Pilate gives in to the noisy cry of
the people.
 He is afraid of rioting.
 Rioting is a senseless reaction of a
crowd or mob, which does
violence to people and destruction
to properties.
 Pilate washes his hands from
responsibility over Jesus.
 He fails to release Jesus.
 He is overwhelmed by the unruly
crowd.
 He does not have trained riot
policemen.
 The people take the responsibility.
 What they say would be misused
by Hitler 2 thousand years later.
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26 Then he released Barabbas
to them, but after he had
Jesus scourged, he handed
him over to be crucified. 27
Then the soldiers of the
governor took Jesus inside the
praetorium and gathered the
whole cohort around him. 28
They stripped off his clothes
and threw a scarlet military
cloak about him. 29 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!" 30 They
spat upon him and took the
reed and kept striking him on
the head. 31 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.
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Jesus is scourged (introduction to
crucifixion).
The soldiers take him to the
praetorium (residence of the Roman
governor).
Cohort is composed of 600 soldiers.
An overkill to an unarmed civilian.
V.27
What did they do to prevent the
riot?
Military cloak is the royal purple
worn by kings. V.28
Crown of thorns resembles the
“radiant” crown worn by Hellenistic
kings.
The soldiers put this crown to make
fun of him, not so much to hurt him.
The reed resembles the scepter
(v.30)
When soldiers take over your life,
anything can happen. You are
helpless.

Simon of Cyrene (Cyrenaica was
a Roman province of north Africa)

32 As they were going
out, they met a Cyrenian
named Simon; this man
they pressed into service
to carry his cross. 33
And when they came to a
place called Golgotha
(which means Place of
the Skull), 34 they gave
Jesus wine to drink mixed
with gall. But when he
had tasted it, he refused
to drink.
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comes from the crowd.
He is forced to help him carry
the cross.
Golgotha is their destination,
the place of crucifixion.
The drink offered to Jesus
serves to anaesthesize him so
that he will not feel so much
pain.
Jesus refuses to take it after
tasting it.
He did not know what it was.
Jesus prefers to feel the pain
through and through.

35 After they had
crucified him, they
divided his garments by
casting lots; 36 then
they sat down and kept
watch over him there.
37 And they placed over
his head the written
charge against him: This
is Jesus, the King of the
Jews. 38 Two
revolutionaries were
crucified with him, one
on his right and the
other on his left. 39
Those passing by reviled
him, shaking their heads
40 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!"
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There is no elaborate description
how he was crucified.
In v.35, the focus is shifted to the
activities of the soldiers:
– Dividing of garments.
– Placing of the placard
– Crucifixion also of two revolutionaries
(probably Zealots), not thieves

The attention is also on the
activities of the passers by:
–
–
–
–
They revile him
They shake their heads
They dare him to save himself.
They make him eat his words in these
moments of agony.

41 Likewise the chief priests
with the scribes and elders
mocked him and said, 42 "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. 43 He
trusted in God; let him deliver
him now if he wants him. For
he said, 'I am the Son of
God.'" 44 The revolutionaries
who were crucified with him
also kept abusing him in the
same way.
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The chief priests and
others join the soldiers
and passers by in
mocking Jesus.
They say more.
They also lower
themselves down.
Also the revolutionaries
join the chorus.
Jesus is all alone with no
one to comfort him.

45 From noon onward,
darkness came over the
whole land until three in
the afternoon. 46 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?" 47 Some of
the bystanders who heard
it said, "This one is calling
for Elijah." 48 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. 49 But the rest said,
"Wait, let us see if Elijah
comes to save him." 50
But Jesus cried out again in
a loud voice, and gave up
his spirit.
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Jesus opens his mouth only at 3 PM.
In Aramaic, his dialect, he expresses
his utter loneliness, crying out, “My
God, my God, why have you
forsaken me?”
It sounds like he is calling Elijah.
V.47
They give him wine to drink. It is not
said whether he takes it.
In v.49, they wait if Elijah would
come down to save him.
In v.50, Jesus breathes his last.
He cries out aloud and gives up his
spirit.
That’s the end of his earthly life.

51 And behold, the veil of the
sanctuary was torn in two from
top to bottom. The earth quaked,
rocks were split, 52 tombs were
opened, and the bodies of many
saints who had fallen asleep were
raised. 53 And coming forth from
their tombs after his resurrection,
they entered the holy city and
appeared to many. 54 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!"
55 There were many women
there, looking on from a distance,
who had followed Jesus from
Galilee, ministering to him. 56
Among them were Mary
Magdalene and Mary the mother
of James and Joseph, and the
mother of the sons of Zebedee.
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In v.51, the attention is shifted to
the Temple.
The sanctuary veil is torn into
two.
This is probably the inner veil of
the sanctuary. There are two veils
(the other one is the outer, before
the entrance of the Holy of
Holies).
There are other happenings:
– Earth quaking, rocks splitting,
dead coming back to life, coming
to Jerusalem.
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The happenings force the
centurion and his men to
acknowledge he is the Son of
God. V.54
V.55 indicates women disciples
have been following Jesus at a
distance.
These women also have left
everything and followed him.

57 When it was evening, there
came a rich man from
Arimathea named Joseph, who
was himself a disciple of Jesus.
58 He went to Pilate and asked
for the body of Jesus; then
Pilate ordered it to be handed
over. 59 Taking the body,
Joseph wrapped it (in) clean
linen 60 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. 61
But Mary Magdalene and the
other Mary remained sitting
there, facing the tomb.
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Towards the end of the
day, Joseph of Arimathea,
a disciple of Jesus,
approaches Pilate for his
body.
Pilate allows him to take
the body down and
wrapped it with clean
linen and put it in a tomb,
with a huge stone rolled
across.
Mary Magdalene and
other Mary remain near
the tomb. Why?

62 The next day, the one
following the day of
preparation, the chief priests
and the Pharisees gathered
before Pilate 63 and said, "Sir,
we remember that this
impostor while still alive said,
'After three days I will be
raised up.' 64 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."
65 Pilate said to them, "The
guard is yours; go secure it as
best you can." 66 So they
went and secured the tomb by
fixing a seal to the stone and
setting the guard.
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For us it is the same day,
Friday evening, but for the
Jews, it is the Sabbath.
The day starts at
sundown.
The chief priests and the
Pharisees are still worried
what would happen next.
They ask Pilate to guard
his tomb, to prevent his
disciples from stealing his
body, thus claiming he is
raised from the dead.
Pilate grants their request.
The Characters of the Passion Narrative
Pilate
Jesus Christ
Where do you find yourself in this drama of accusation,
mock trial, sentence and execution?
Reflections on the gospel reading
It is clear at the outset that religious authorities (the
ruling class at that time) do not like Jesus of Nazareth.
 His identity and his teachings disturb them.
 They use the pagan Romans to execute Jesus for their
comfort.
 The story is called the passion narrative. It is so coined
to portray the harsh experience of Jesus.
 It demonstrates how Jesus is falsely accused, unjustly
tried and the trial was motivated with envy or anger or a
deep insecurity.
 With this kind of people (chief priests, Pharisees and
scribes), no one can be spared even the God-Jesus.
 Their insecurity is totally destructive.
 They can do it to Jesus, how much more to others?

Tying the 3 readings
The first reading is about the song of the
suffering servant.
 The second reading is a deep reflection on the
emptying of Christ-God and his utter humility to
become a man-servant.
 The gospel reading portrays the terrible
sufferings of Jesus inflicted by the higher ups,
just because they don’t like him.

How to develop your homily /
sharing
The homilist or sharer must emphasize the
cause of sufferings of all human beings.
 We cause the sufferings of others if we refuse to
see their ‘light’. (the sin of the chief priests and
high priest)
 We cause the sufferings of others if we allow
ourselves to be used to demolish others in
exchange for money (the sin of Judas Iscariot)
 We cause the sufferings of others, if we allow
ourselves to be bribed by the rich and powerful
to do dirty jobs against the hapless innocent.
(the sin of the crowds)

We cause the sufferings of others, by not
making a strong stand against injustice, but
allowing ourselves to be overcome by events
(mobs) and wash our hands of responsibility.
(the sin of Pilate)
 We cause the sufferings of our friends, if we
don’t recognize our special relationship with
them in times of need. (the sin of Peter)
 We cause the sufferings of others by senselessly
making fun of people who are defenseless. (the
sin of the soldiers)
 We cause the sufferings of others by justifying it
in the name of religion. (the sin of the Pharisees
and scribes)
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The homilist or sharer can develop also the
meaning of suffering.
Our sufferings can be more meaningful if we
connect them with Jesus.
No suffering is ever justifiable. We do not
choose how we suffer, otherwise it is not
suffering.
If we are suffering unjustly, let it be.
It is the only way to understand the sufferings of
Jesus.
After a time of fighting / doing (as when Jesus
was still teaching, arguing and proving his
enemies wrong), expect time for suffering.
We, Christians, should be able to submit
ourselves to suffering.
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The eucharist is the sacrament of suffering.
We find connection with Christ when we suffer
with him.
The eucharist strengthens us in our sufferings.
In the eucharist, if we truly believe in His
presence, we find consolation in our sufferings.
The eucharist helps us realize that the way of
the cross is the only way to salvation.
Without acceptance of suffering like the
suffering servant, we cannot be in total
communion with Jesus in the eucharist.
Our Context of Sin and Grace
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Short patience
Low tolerant level
Vindictive
Vengeance
Runs away from pain,
coward
Inability to suffer
No solidarity
Ability to suffer
quietly
 Kenosis, emptying
 Humility
 Solidarity

Suggested Songs

Paano Namin Masasabi
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ICZUOf_jNo

Biyayang Mula Sa Yo
– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxbmC_LVJrQ

Sagut Naggapu Kenka
– http://youtu.be/YZFjVlAcClU