The Gospel at the Procession with Palms

The Entry into Jerusalem

LK 19:28-40

Jesus proceeded on his journey up to Jerusalem.

As he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany

at the place called the Mount of Olives,

he sent two of his disciples.

He said, "Go into the village opposite you,

and as you enter it you will find a colt tethered

on which no one has ever sat.

Untie it and bring it here.

And if anyone should ask you,

'Why are you untying it?'

you will answer,

'The Master has need of it.'"

So those who had been sent went off

and found everything just as he had told them.

And as they were untying the colt, its owners said to them,

"Why are you untying this colt?"

They answered,

"The Master has need of it."

So they brought it to Jesus,

threw their cloaks over the colt,

and helped Jesus to mount.

As he rode along,

the people were spreading their cloaks on the road;

and now as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives,

the whole multitude of his disciples

began to praise God aloud with joy

for all the mighty deeds they had seen.

They proclaimed:

"Blessed is the king who comes

in the name of the Lord.

Peace in heaven

and glory in the highest."

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him,

"Teacher, rebuke your disciples."

He said in reply,

"I tell you, if they keep silent,

the stones will cry out!"

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IS 50:4-7

PS 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24

PHIL 2:6-11

The Passion Narrative

LK 22:14-23:56 or LK 23:1-49
[Short form shown here]

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 me

and 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 imprisoned

for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked,

and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.

As they led him away

they 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 bore

and 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 land

until three in the afternoon

because 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.