Reading 1
Is 50:4-7
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; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back.
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.
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.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
All who see me scoff at me; they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads: “He relied on the LORD; let
him deliver him, let him rescue him, if he loves him.”
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Indeed, many dogs surround me, a pack of evildoers closes in upon me; They have pierced my hands and my
feet; I can count all my bones.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
They divide my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots. But you, O LORD, be not far from me;
O my help, hasten to aid me.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
I will proclaim your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you: “You who fear the LORD,
praise him; all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him; revere him, all you descendants of Israel!”
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Reading II
Phil 2:6-11
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in
appearance, he humbled himself, becoming 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, that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Gospel
Mt 26:14—27:66 or 27:11-54
One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to
give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an
opportunity to hand him over.
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want
us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher
says, (My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”’” The
disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.
When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to
you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it
is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me.
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.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is
not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”
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.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you,
for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you,
from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of
my Father.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Then Jesus said to them, “This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken, for it is written: I will strike the
shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed; but after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to
Galilee.” Peter said to him in reply, “Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be.” Jesus said
to him, “Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to
him, “Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.” And all the disciples spoke likewise.
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.”
He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them,
“My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” 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.”
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? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
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!” Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep
their eyes open. He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again. 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. Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd, with swords and
clubs, who had come from the chief priests and the elders of the people. His betrayer had arranged a sign with
them, saying, “The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him.” Immediately he went over to Jesus and said, “Hail,
Rabbi!” and he kissed him. Jesus answered him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then stepping forward
they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. 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. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword
back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 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?
But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled which say that it must come to pass in this way?” 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. But all this has come to pass that the writings of
the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were
assembled. 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. The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain
false testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses
came forward. Finally two came forward who stated, “This man said, ‘I can destroy the temple of God and within
three days rebuild it.’” The high priest rose and addressed him, “Have you no answer? What are these men
testifying against you?” 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 Christ, the Son of God.” 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.’” 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; what is your opinion?” They said in reply, “He
deserves to die!” Then they spat in his face and struck him, while some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy for us,
Christ: who is it that struck you?”
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.” But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about!”
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.” Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man!” A little later the bystanders came over
and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you away.” At that he began to
curse and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately a cock crowed. 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.
When it was morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to
death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.
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, saying, “I have sinned in betraying innocent
blood.” They said, “What is that to us? Look to it yourself.” Flinging the money into the temple, he departed and
went off and hanged himself. 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.” After consultation, they used it to buy the potter’s field
as a burial place for foreigners. That is why that field even today is called the Field of Blood. 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, and they paid it out for the potter’s field
just as the Lord had commanded me.
Now Jesus stood before the governor, and he questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You
say so.” And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him,
“Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?” But he did not answer him one word, so
that the governor was greatly amazed.
Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom
they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had assembled, Pilate
said to them, “Which one do you want me to release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?” For he knew that
it was out of envy that they had handed him over. 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.” The
chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus. The governor said to
them in reply, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They answered, "Barabbas!” Pilate said to
them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” But he said, “Why?
What evil has he done?”They only shouted the louder, “Let him be crucified!” 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.” And the whole people said in reply,
“His blood be upon us and upon our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus
scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him.
They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. 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!” They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head. 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.
As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon; this man they pressed into service to carry his cross.
And when they came to a place called Golgotha —which means Place of the Skull —, they gave Jesus wine to
drink mixed with gall. But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink. After they had crucified him, they divided
his garments by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And they placed over his head
the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Two revolutionaries were crucified with him,
one on his right and the other on his left. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads 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!” Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said, “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. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The
revolutionaries who were crucified with him also kept abusing him in the same way.
From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 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?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “This one is calling for Elijah.” 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. But the rest said,
“Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him.” But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit.
Here all kneel and pause for a short time. And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to
bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen
asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and
appeared to many. 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!”
There were many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to
him. Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons
of Zebedee.
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus.
He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the body,
Joseph wrapped it in clean linen 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. But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting
there, facing the tomb.
The next day, the one following the day of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before
Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember that this impostor while still alive said, ‘After three days I will be raised up.’ 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.” Pilate said to
them, “The guard is yours; go, secure it as best you can.” So they went and secured the tomb by fixing a seal to
the stone and setting the guard.
Is 50:4-7
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; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back.
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.
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.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
All who see me scoff at me; they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads: “He relied on the LORD; let
him deliver him, let him rescue him, if he loves him.”
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Indeed, many dogs surround me, a pack of evildoers closes in upon me; They have pierced my hands and my
feet; I can count all my bones.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
They divide my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots. But you, O LORD, be not far from me;
O my help, hasten to aid me.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
I will proclaim your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you: “You who fear the LORD,
praise him; all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him; revere him, all you descendants of Israel!”
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Reading II
Phil 2:6-11
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in
appearance, he humbled himself, becoming 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, that at the name of
Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Gospel
Mt 26:14—27:66 or 27:11-54
One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to
give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an
opportunity to hand him over.
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want
us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher
says, (My appointed time draws near; in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.”’” The
disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.
When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to
you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it
is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me.
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.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is
not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”
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.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you,
for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you,
from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it with you new in the kingdom of
my Father.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Then Jesus said to them, “This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken, for it is written: I will strike the
shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed; but after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to
Galilee.” Peter said to him in reply, “Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be.” Jesus said
to him, “Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” Peter said to
him, “Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.” And all the disciples spoke likewise.
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.”
He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them,
“My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.” 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.”
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? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
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!” Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep
their eyes open. He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again. 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. Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is at hand.”
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd, with swords and
clubs, who had come from the chief priests and the elders of the people. His betrayer had arranged a sign with
them, saying, “The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him.” Immediately he went over to Jesus and said, “Hail,
Rabbi!” and he kissed him. Jesus answered him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then stepping forward
they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. 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. Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword
back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 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?
But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled which say that it must come to pass in this way?” 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. But all this has come to pass that the writings of
the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled.
Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were
assembled. 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. The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain
false testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses
came forward. Finally two came forward who stated, “This man said, ‘I can destroy the temple of God and within
three days rebuild it.’” The high priest rose and addressed him, “Have you no answer? What are these men
testifying against you?” 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 Christ, the Son of God.” 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.’” 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; what is your opinion?” They said in reply, “He
deserves to die!” Then they spat in his face and struck him, while some slapped him, saying, “Prophesy for us,
Christ: who is it that struck you?”
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.” But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about!”
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.” Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man!” A little later the bystanders came over
and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you away.” At that he began to
curse and to swear, “I do not know the man.” And immediately a cock crowed. 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.
When it was morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to
death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.
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, saying, “I have sinned in betraying innocent
blood.” They said, “What is that to us? Look to it yourself.” Flinging the money into the temple, he departed and
went off and hanged himself. 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.” After consultation, they used it to buy the potter’s field
as a burial place for foreigners. That is why that field even today is called the Field of Blood. 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, and they paid it out for the potter’s field
just as the Lord had commanded me.
Now Jesus stood before the governor, and he questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You
say so.” And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him,
“Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?” But he did not answer him one word, so
that the governor was greatly amazed.
Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom
they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had assembled, Pilate
said to them, “Which one do you want me to release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?” For he knew that
it was out of envy that they had handed him over. 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.” The
chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus. The governor said to
them in reply, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They answered, "Barabbas!” Pilate said to
them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” But he said, “Why?
What evil has he done?”They only shouted the louder, “Let him be crucified!” 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.” And the whole people said in reply,
“His blood be upon us and upon our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus
scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him.
They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. 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!” They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head. 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.
As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon; this man they pressed into service to carry his cross.
And when they came to a place called Golgotha —which means Place of the Skull —, they gave Jesus wine to
drink mixed with gall. But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink. After they had crucified him, they divided
his garments by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And they placed over his head
the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Two revolutionaries were crucified with him,
one on his right and the other on his left. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads 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!” Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said, “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. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now if he wants him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The
revolutionaries who were crucified with him also kept abusing him in the same way.
From noon onward, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 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?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “This one is calling for Elijah.” 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. But the rest said,
“Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him.” But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit.
Here all kneel and pause for a short time. And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to
bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen
asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and
appeared to many. 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!”
There were many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to
him. Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons
of Zebedee.
When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus.
He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the body,
Joseph wrapped it in clean linen 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. But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting
there, facing the tomb.
The next day, the one following the day of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before
Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember that this impostor while still alive said, ‘After three days I will be raised up.’ 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.” Pilate said to
them, “The guard is yours; go, secure it as best you can.” So they went and secured the tomb by fixing a seal to
the stone and setting the guard.
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