29 March 2026 (Sunday)
Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion.
Readings from the Bible of the Roman Catholic
Church:
Procession: Matthew 21: 1-11
First Reading: Isaiah 50: 4-7
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
Second Reading: Philippians 2: 6-11
Verse Before the Gospel: Philippians 2: 8-9
Gospel: Matthew 26: 14 – 27: 66 or Matthew 27: 11-54
Procession: Matthew 21: 1-11
1 And when they drew nigh to Jerusalem, and
were come to Bethphage, unto mount Olivet, then Jesus sent two disciples,
2 Saying to them: Go ye into the village that
is over against you, and immediately you shall find an ass tied, and a colt
with her: loose them and bring them to me.
3 And if any man shall say anything to you,
say ye, that the Lord hath need of them: and forthwith he will let them go.
4 Now all this was done that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying:
5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion: Behold thy
king cometh to thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of her
that is used to the yoke.
6 And the disciples going, did as Jesus
commanded them.
7 And they brought the ass and the colt, and
laid their garments upon them, and made him sit thereon.
8 And a very great multitude spread their
garments in the way: and others cut boughs from the trees, and strewed them in
the way:
9 And the multitudes that went before and
that followed, cried, saying: Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that
cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, the
whole city was moved, saying: Who is this?
11 And the people said: This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth of Galilee.
First Reading: Isaiah 50: 4-7
4 The Lord hath given me a learned tongue,
that I should know how to uphold by word him that is weary: he wakeneth in the
morning, in the morning he wakeneth my ear, that I may hear him as a master.
5 The Lord God hath opened my ear, and I do
not resist: I have not gone back.
6 I have given my body to the strikers, and
my cheeks to them that plucked them: I have not turned away my face from them
that rebuked me, and spit upon me.
7 The Lord God is my helper, therefore am I not confounded: therefore have I set my face as a most hard rock, and I know that I shall not be confounded.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 22: 8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
R. (2a) My God, my God, why have you
abandoned me?
8 All they that saw me have laughed me to
scorn: they have spoken with the lips, and wagged the head.
9 He hoped in the Lord, let him deliver him:
let him save him, seeing he delighteth in him.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
17 For many dogs have encompassed me: the
council of the malignant hath besieged me. They have dug my hands and feet.
18 They have numbered all my bones. And they
have looked and stared upon me.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
19 They parted my garments amongst them; and
upon my vesture they cast lots.
20 But thou, O Lord, remove not thy help to a
distance from me; look towards my defence.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
23 I will declare thy name to my brethren: in
the midst of the church will I praise thee.
24 Ye that fear the Lord, praise him: all ye
the seed of Jacob, glorify him.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Second Reading: Philippians 2: 6-11
6 Who being in the form of God, thought it
not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But emptied himself, taking the form of a
servant, being made in the likeness of men, and in habit found as a man.
8 He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto
death, even to the death of the cross.
9 For which cause God also hath exalted him,
and hath given him a name which is above all names:
10 That in the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of those that are in heaven, on earth, and under the earth:
11 And that every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father.
Verse Before the Gospel: Philippians
2: 8-9
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.
(2:6 His state was divine, yet he did not cling to
his equality with God
2:7 but emptied himself to assume the condition of
a slave, and became as men are; and being as all men are,
2:8 he was humbler yet, even to accepting death,
death on a cross.
2:9 But God raised him high and gave him the name
which is above all other names
2:10 so that all beings in the heavens, on earth
and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus
2:11 and that every tongue should acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.)
Gospel: Matthew 26: 14 – 27: 66 or Matthew 27: 11-54
14 Then went one of the twelve, who was
called Judas Iscariot, to the chief priests,
15 And said to them: What will you give me,
and I will deliver him unto you? But they appointed him thirty pieces of
silver.
16 And from thenceforth he sought opportunity
to betray him.
17 And on the first day of the Azymes, the
disciples came to Jesus, saying: Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to
eat the pasch?
18 But Jesus said: Go ye into the city to a
certain man, and say to him: the master saith, My time is near at hand, with
thee I make the pasch with my disciples.
19 And the disciples did as Jesus appointed
to them, and they prepared the pasch.
20 But when it was evening, he sat down with
his twelve disciples.
21 And whilst they were eating, he said: Amen
I say to you, that one of you is about to betray me.
22 And they being very much troubled, began
every one to say: Is it I, Lord?
23 But he answering, said: He that dippeth
his hand with me in the dish, he shall betray me.
24 The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is
written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man shall be betrayed:
it were better for him, if that man had not been born.
25 And Judas that betrayed him, answering,
said: Is it I, Rabbi? He saith to him: Thou hast said it.
26 And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took
bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to his disciples, and said: Take ye,
and eat. This is my body.
27 And taking the chalice, he gave thanks,
and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this.
28 For this is my blood of the new testament,
which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins.
29 And I say to you, I will not drink from
henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I shall drink it with
you new in the kingdom of my Father.
30 And a hymn being said, they went out unto
mount Olivet.
31 Then Jesus said to them: All you shall be
scandalized in me this night. For it is written: I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock shall be dispersed.
32 But after I shall be risen again, I will
go before you into Galilee.
33 And Peter answering, said to him: Although
all shall be scandalized in thee, I will never be scandalized.
34 Jesus said to him: Amen I say to thee,
that in this night before the cock crow, thou wilt deny me thrice.
35 Peter saith to him: Yea, though I should
die with thee, I will not deny thee. And in like manner said all the disciples.
36 Then Jesus came with them into a country
place which is called Gethsemani; and he said to his disciples: Sit you here,
till I go yonder and pray.
37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons
of Zebedee, he began to grow sorrowful and to be sad.
38 Then he saith to them: My soul is
sorrowful even unto death: stay you here, and watch with me.
39 And going a little further, he fell upon
his face, praying, and saying: My Father, if it be possible, let this chalice
pass from me. Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
40 And he cometh to his disciples, and
findeth them asleep, and he saith to Peter: What? Could you not watch one hour
with me?
41 Watch ye, and pray that ye enter not into
temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh weak.
42 Again the second time, he went and prayed,
saying: My Father, if this chalice may not pass away, but I must drink it, thy
will be done.
43 And he cometh again and findeth them
sleeping: for their eyes were heavy.
44 And leaving them, he went again: and he
prayed the third time, saying the selfsame word.
45 Then he cometh to his disciples, and saith
to them: Sleep ye now and take your rest; behold the hour is at hand, and the
Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of sinners.
46 Rise, let us go: behold he is at hand that
will betray me.
47 As he yet spoke, behold Judas, one of the
twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and clubs, sent from
the chief priests and the ancients of the people.
48 And he that betrayed him, gave them a
sign, saying: Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he, hold him fast.
49 And forthwith coming to Jesus, he said: Hail,
Rabbi. And he kissed him.
50 And Jesus said to him: Friend, whereto art
thou come? Then they came up, and laid hands on Jesus, and held him.
51 And behold one of them that were with
Jesus, stretching forth his hand, drew out his sword: and striking the servant
of the high priest, cut off his ear.
52 Then Jesus saith to him: Put up again thy
sword into its place: for all that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
53 Thinkest thou that I cannot ask my Father,
and he will give me presently more than twelve legions of angels?
54 How then shall the scriptures be
fulfilled, that so it must be done?
55 In that same hour Jesus said to the
multitudes: You are come out as it were to a robber with swords and clubs to
apprehend me. I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you laid not
hands on me.
56 Now all this was done, that the scriptures
of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then the disciples all leaving him, fled.
57 But they holding Jesus led him to Caiphas
the high priest, where the scribes and the ancients were assembled.
58 And Peter followed him afar off, even to
the court of the high priest. And going in, he sat with the servants, that he
might see the end.
59 And the chief priests and the whole
council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death:
60 And they found not, whereas many false
witnesses had come in. And last of all there came two false witnesses:
61 And they said: This man said, I am able to
destroy the temple of God, and after three days to rebuild it.
62 And the high priest rising up, said to
him: Answerest thou nothing to the things which these witness against thee?
63 But Jesus held his peace. And the high
priest said to him: I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us if thou
be the Christ the Son of God.
64 Jesus saith to him: Thou hast said it.
Nevertheless I say to you, hereafter you shall see the Son of man sitting on
the right hand of the power of God, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
65 Then the high priests rent his garments,
saying: He hath blasphemed; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now
you have heard the blasphemy:
66 What think you? But they answering, said:
He is guilty of death.
67 Then did they spit in his face, and
buffeted him: and others struck his face with the palms of their hands,
68 Saying: Prophesy unto us, O Christ, who is
he that struck thee?
69 But Peter sat without in the court: and
there came to him a servant maid, saying: Thou also wast with Jesus the
Galilean.
70 But he denied before them all, saying: I
know not what thou sayest.
71 And as he went out of the gate, another
maid saw him, and she saith to them that were there: This man also was with
Jesus of Nazareth.
72 And again he denied with an oath, I know
not the man.
73 And after a little while they came that
stood by, and said to Peter: Surely thou also art one of them; for even thy
speech doth discover thee.
74 Then he began to curse and to swear that
he knew not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus
which he had said: Before the cock crow, thou wilt deny me thrice. And going
forth, he wept bitterly.
27:1 And when morning was come, all the chief
priests and ancients of the people took counsel against Jesus, that they might
put him to death.
2 And they brought him bound, and delivered
him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
3 Then Judas, who betrayed him, seeing that
he was condemned, repenting himself, brought back the thirty pieces of silver
to the chief priests and ancients,
4 Saying: I have sinned in betraying innocent
blood. But they said: What is that to us? look thou to it.
5 And casting down the pieces of silver in
the temple, he departed: and went and hanged himself with an halter.
6 But the chief priests having taken the
pieces of silver, said: It is not lawful to put them into the corbona, because
it is the price of blood.
7 And after they had consulted together, they
bought with them the potter’s field, to be a burying place for strangers.
8 For this cause the field was called
Haceldama, that is, The field of blood, even to this day.
9 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by
Jeremias the prophet, saying: And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the
price of him that was prized, whom they prized of the children of Israel.
10 And they gave them unto the potter’s
field, as the Lord appointed to me.
11 And Jesus stood before the governor, and
the governor asked him, saying: Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus saith to
him: Thou sayest it.
12 And when he was accused by the chief
priests and ancients, he answered nothing.
13 Then Pilate saith to him: Dost not thou
hear how great testimonies they allege against thee?
14 And he answered him to never a word; so
that the governor wondered exceedingly.
15 Now upon the solemn day the governor was
accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, whom they would.
16 And he had then a notorious prisoner, that
was called Barabbas.
17 They therefore being gathered together,
Pilate said: Whom will you that I release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus that is
called Christ?
18 For he knew that for envy they had
delivered him.
19 And as he was sitting in the place of
judgment, his wife sent to him, saying: Have thou nothing to do with that just
man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20 But the chief priests and ancients persuaded
the people, that they should ask Barabbas, and make Jesus away.
21 And the governor answering, said to them:
Whether will you of the two to be released unto you? But they said, Barabbas.
22 Pilate saith to them: What shall I do then
with Jesus that is called Christ? They say all: Let him be crucified.
23 The governor said to them: Why, what evil
hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying: Let him be crucified.
24 And Pilate seeing that he prevailed
nothing, but that rather a tumult was made; taking water washed his hands
before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man; look
you to it.
25 And the whole people answering, said: His
blood be upon us and our children.
26 Then he released to them Barabbas, and
having scourged Jesus, delivered him unto them to be crucified.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor taking
Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto him the whole band;
28 And stripping him, they put a scarlet
cloak about him.
29 And platting a crown of thorns, they put
it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him,
they mocked him, saying: Hail, king of the Jews.
30 And spitting upon him, they took the reed,
and struck his head.
31 And after they had mocked him, they took
off the cloak from him, and put on him his own garments, and led him away to
crucify him.
32 And going out, they found a man of Cyrene,
named Simon: him they forced to take up his cross.
33 And they came to the place that is called
Golgotha, which is the place of Calvary.
34 And they gave him wine to drink mingled
with gall. And when he had tasted, he would not drink.
35 And after they had crucified him, they
divided his garments, casting lots; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
by the prophet, saying: They divided my garments among them; and upon my
vesture they cast lots.
36 And they sat and watched him.
37 And they put over his head his cause
written: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38 Then were crucified with him two thieves:
one on the right hand, and one on the left.
39 And they that passed by, blasphemed him,
wagging their heads,
40 And saying: Vah, thou that destroyest the
temple of God, and in three days dost rebuild it: save thy own self: if thou be
the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41 In like manner also the chief priests,
with the scribes and ancients, mocking, said:
42 He saved others; himself he cannot save.
If he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will
believe him.
43 He trusted in God; let him now deliver him
if he will have him; for he said: I am the Son of God.
44 And the selfsame thing the thieves also,
that were crucified with him, reproached him with.
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness
over the whole earth, until the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with
a loud voice, saying: Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? that is, My God, my God, why
hast thou forsaken me?
47 And some that stood there and heard, said:
This man calleth Elias.
48 And immediately one of them running took a
sponge, and filled it with vinegar; and put it on a reed, and gave him to
drink.
49 And the others said: Let be, let us see
whether Elias will come to deliver him.
50 And Jesus again crying with a loud voice,
yielded up the ghost.
51 And behold the veil of the temple was rent
in two from the top even to the bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks
were rent.
52 And the graves were opened: and many
bodies of the saints that had slept arose,
53 And coming out of the tombs after his
resurrection, came into the holy city, and appeared to many.
54 Now the centurion and they that were with
him watching Jesus, having seen the earthquake, and the things that were done,
were sore afraid, saying: Indeed this was the Son of God.
55 And there were there many women afar off,
who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
56 Among whom was Mary Magdalen, and Mary the
mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
57 And when it was evening, there came a
certain rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was a disciple of
Jesus.
58 He went to Pilate, and asked the body of
Jesus. Then Pilate commanded that the body should be delivered.
59 And Joseph taking the body, wrapped it up
in a clean linen cloth.
60 And laid it in his own new monument, which
he had hewed out in a rock. And he rolled a great stone to the door of the
monument, and went his way.
61 And there was there Mary Magdalen, and the
other Mary sitting over against the sepulchre.
62 And the next day, which followed the day
of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees came together to Pilate,
63 Saying: Sir, we have remembered, that that
seducer said, while he was yet alive: After three days I will rise again.
64 Command therefore the sepulchre to be
guarded until the third day: lest perhaps his disciples come and steal him
away, and say to the people: He is risen from the dead; and the last error
shall be worse than the first.
65 Pilate saith to them: You have a guard;
go, guard it as you know.
66 And they departing, made the sepulchre
sure, sealing the stone, and setting guards.
OR:
11 And Jesus stood before the governor, and
the governor asked him, saying: Art thou the king of the Jews? Jesus saith to
him: Thou sayest it.
12 And when he was accused by the chief
priests and ancients, he answered nothing.
13 Then Pilate saith to him: Dost not thou
hear how great testimonies they allege against thee?
14 And he answered him to never a word; so
that the governor wondered exceedingly.
15 Now upon the solemn day the governor was
accustomed to release to the people one prisoner, whom they would.
16 And he had then a notorious prisoner, that
was called Barabbas.
17 They therefore being gathered together,
Pilate said: Whom will you that I release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus that is
called Christ?
18 For he knew that for envy they had
delivered him.
19 And as he was sitting in the place of
judgment, his wife sent to him, saying: Have thou nothing to do with that just
man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
20 But the chief priests and ancients
persuaded the people, that they should ask Barabbas, and make Jesus away.
21 And the governor answering, said to them:
Whether will you of the two to be released unto you? But they said, Barabbas.
22 Pilate saith to them: What shall I do then
with Jesus that is called Christ? They say all: Let him be crucified.
23 The governor said to them: Why, what evil
hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying: Let him be crucified.
24 And Pilate seeing that he prevailed
nothing, but that rather a tumult was made; taking water washed his hands
before the people, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just man; look
you to it.
25 And the whole people answering, said: His
blood be upon us and our children.
26 Then he released to them Barabbas, and
having scourged Jesus, delivered him unto them to be crucified.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor taking
Jesus into the hall, gathered together unto him the whole band;
28 And stripping him, they put a scarlet
cloak about him.
29 And platting a crown of thorns, they put
it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him,
they mocked him, saying: Hail, king of the Jews.
30 And spitting upon him, they took the reed,
and struck his head.
31 And after they had mocked him, they took
off the cloak from him, and put on him his own garments, and led him away to
crucify him.
32 And going out, they found a man of Cyrene,
named Simon: him they forced to take up his cross.
33 And they came to the place that is called
Golgotha, which is the place of Calvary.
34 And they gave him wine to drink mingled
with gall. And when he had tasted, he would not drink.
35 And after they had crucified him, they
divided his garments, casting lots; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken
by the prophet, saying: They divided my garments among them; and upon my
vesture they cast lots.
36 And they sat and watched him.
37 And they put over his head his cause
written: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
38 Then were crucified with him two thieves:
one on the right hand, and one on the left.
39 And they that passed by, blasphemed him,
wagging their heads,
40 And saying: Vah, thou that destroyest the
temple of God, and in three days dost rebuild it: save thy own self: if thou be
the Son of God, come down from the cross.
41 In like manner also the chief priests,
with the scribes and ancients, mocking, said:
42 He saved others; himself he cannot save.
If he be the king of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will
believe him.
43 He trusted in God; let him now deliver him
if he will have him; for he said: I am the Son of God.
44 And the selfsame thing the thieves also, that
were crucified with him, reproached him with.
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness
over the whole earth, until the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with
a loud voice, saying: Eli, Eli, lamma sabacthani? that is, My God, my God, why
hast thou forsaken me?
47 And some that stood there and heard, said:
This man calleth Elias.
48 And immediately one of them running took a
sponge, and filled it with vinegar; and put it on a reed, and gave him to
drink.
49 And the others said: Let be, let us see
whether Elias will come to deliver him.
50 And Jesus again crying with a loud voice,
yielded up the ghost.
51 And behold the veil of the temple was rent
in two from the top even to the bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks
were rent.
52 And the graves were opened: and many
bodies of the saints that had slept arose,
53 And coming out of the tombs after his
resurrection, came into the holy city, and appeared to many.
54 Now the centurion and they that were with him watching Jesus, having seen the earthquake, and the things that were done, were sore afraid, saying: Indeed this was the Son of God.
For our reflection today:
This week begins with the festive procession with
olive branches: the entire populace welcomes Jesus. The children and young
people sing, praising Jesus.
But this week continues in the mystery of Jesus’
death and his resurrection. We have just listened to the Passion of our Lord.
We might well ask ourselves just one question: Who am I? Who am I, before my
Lord? Who am I, before Jesus who enters Jerusalem amid the enthusiasm of the
crowd? Am I ready to express my joy, to praise him? Or do I stand back? Who am
I, before the suffering Jesus?
We have just heard many, many names. The group of
leaders, some priests, the Pharisees, the teachers of the law, who had decided
to kill Jesus. They were waiting for the chance to arrest him. Am I like one of
them?
We have also heard another name: Judas. Thirty
pieces of silver. Am I like Judas? We have heard other names too: the disciples
who understand nothing, who fell asleep while the Lord was suffering. Has my
life fallen asleep? Or am I like the disciples, who did not realize what it was
to betray Jesus? Or like that other disciple, who wanted to settle everything
with a sword? Am I like them? Am I like Judas, who feigns loved and then kisses
the Master in order to hand him over, to betray him? Am I a traitor? Am I like
those people in power who hastily summon a tribunal and seek false witnesses:
am I like them? And when I do these things, if I do them, do I think that in
this way I am saving the people?
Am I like Pilate? When I see that the situation is
difficult, do I wash my hands and dodge my responsibility, allowing people to
be condemned – or condemning them myself?
Am I like that crowd which was not sure whether
they were at a religious meeting, a trial or a circus, and then chose Barabbas?
For them it was all the same: it was more entertaining to humiliate Jesus.
Am I like the soldiers who strike the Lord, spit
on him, insult him, who find entertainment in humiliating him?
Am I like the Cyrenian, who was returning from
work, weary, yet was good enough to help the Lord carry his cross?
Am I like those who walked by the cross and mocked
Jesus: “He was so courageous! Let him come down from the cross and then we will
believe in him!”. Mocking Jesus….
Am I like those fearless women, and like the
mother of Jesus, who were there, and who suffered in silence?
Am I like Joseph, the hidden disciple, who
lovingly carries the body of Jesus to give it burial?
Am I like the two Marys, who remained at the Tomb,
weeping and praying?
Am I like those leaders who went the next day to
Pilate and said, “Look, this man said that he was going to rise again. We
cannot let another fraud take place!”, and who block life, who block the tomb,
in order to maintain doctrine, lest life come forth?
Where is my heart? Which of these persons am I like? May this question remain with us throughout the entire week.
CELEBRATION
OF PALM SUNDAY OF THE PASSION OF THE LORD
HOMILY OF POPE FRANCIS
St. Peter's Square
29th World
Youth Day
Sunday, 13 April 2014
Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Pelayan Atasan Tertinggi / Most High Servant,
Yesus, Maria, Yusuf Pelayanan Kasih / Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love
(Blessed and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)
My vocation is Blessed and Saints.
"I am the most humble of all the Saints in Heaven" Mary, Mother of God."
"I am the handmaid of the Lord, said Mary ‘let what you have said be done to me."
Mother Mary is the most humble Saint in Heaven and she is also the Mother of God for us all
(Luke 1:38)
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