Rev. Fr.
Leonard Goffine's
The Church's Year
WEDNESDAY
AFTER PALM SUNDAY
LESSON
(Isai. LXII, II., to LXIII. 1-7.) Thus said the Lord God: Tell the
daughter of Sion: Behold thy Saviour cometh: behold his reward is
with him. Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments
from Bosra, this beautiful one in his robe, walking in the greatness
of his strength. I, that speak justice, and am a defender to save.
Why then is thy apparel red, and thy garments like theirs that tread
in the wine-press? I have trodden the wine-press alone, and of the
Gentiles there is not a man with me: I have trampled on them in
my indignation, and have trodden them down in my wrath, and their
blood is sprinkled upon my garments, and I have stained all my apparel.
For the day of vengeance is in my heart, the year of my redemption
is come. I looked about and there was none to help: I sought, and
there was none to give aid: and my own arm hath saved from me, and
my indignation itself hath helped me. And I have trodden down the
people in my wrath, and have made them drunk in my indignation,
and have brought down their strength to the earth. I will remember
the tender mercies of the Lord, the praise of the Lord for all the
things that the Lord hath bestowed on us.
EXPLANATION
Once more the prophet's words point to the Saviour, and describe
His triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, where He went to accomplish
the work of redemption, which He had always in His heart and before
His eyes; he refers to His victories over all His enemies, the world,
and the devil, whom He had trampled on and destroyed as the wine-presser
does the grapes. The day of Christ's death was also the day of vengeance
on His enemies, whom He overcame on the cross. The prophet who foresaw
all this, thanks God in the last words of this lesson, and we also
are called upon to thank Christ for our Redemption.
THE
PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE, CHAP. XXII. AND XXIII.
At
that time, The feast of unleavened bread,
which is called the Pasch, was at hand.
And the chief priests and the scribes
sought how they might put Jesus to
death; but they feared the people. And
Satan entered into Judas, who was surnamed
Iscariot, one of the twelve; and he went,
and discoursed with the chief priests
and the magistrates, how he might betray
him to them. And they were glad, and covenanted
to give him money. And he promised; and
he sought opportunity to betray him in
the absence of the multitude. And the
day of the unleavened bread came, on which
it was necessary that the Pasch should
be killed. And he sent Peter and John,
saying: Go and prepare for us the Pasch,
that we may eat. But they said: Where
wilt thou that we prepare? And he said
to them: Behold, as you go into the city,
there shall meet you a man carrying a
pitcher of water; follow him into the
house where he entereth in, and you shall
say to the good man of the house: The
master saith to thee: Where is the guest-chamber,
where I may eat the Pasch with my disciples?
And he will show you a large dining-room
furnished; and there prepare. And they
going, found as he had said to them, and
made ready the Pasch. And when the hour
was come, he pat down, and the twelve
apostles with him. And he said to them:
With desire I have desired to eat this
Pasch with you before I suffer. For I
say to you, that from this time I will
not eat it, till it be fulfilled in the
kingdom of God. And having taken the chalice
he gave thanks, and said: Take and divide
it among you. For I say to you that I
will not drink of the fruit of the vine,
till the kingdom of God come. And taking
bread, he gave thanks, and brake, and
gave to them, saying: This is my body,
which is given for you: do this for a
commemoration of me. In like manner the
chalice also, after he had supped, saying:
This is the chalice, the new testament
of my blood, which shall be shed for you.
But yet behold, the hand of him that betrayeth
me is with me on the table. And the Son
of man, indeed goeth, according to that
which is determined; but yet woe to that
man by whom he shall be betrayed. And
they began to inquire among themselves,
which of them it was that should do this
thing. And there was also a strife amongst
them, which of them should seem to be
greater. And he said to them: The kings
of the Gentiles lord it over them; and
they that have power over them, are called
beneficent. But you not so; but he that
is the greater among you, let him
become as the younger; and he that is
the leader, as he that serveth. For which
is greater, he that sitteth at table,
or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth
at table? but I am in the midst of you,
as he that serveth; and you are they who
have continued with me in my temptations.
And I dispose to you, as my Father hath
disposed to me, a kingdom: that you may
eat and drink at my table in my kingdom;
and may sit upon thrones judging the twelve
tribes of Israel. And the Lord said: Simon,
Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have
you, that he may sift you as wheat. But
I have prayed for thee that thy faith
fail not: and thou being once converted,
confirm thy brethren. Who said to him:
Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both
into prison and to death. And he said:
I say to thee, Peter, the cock shall not
crow this day, till thou thrice deniest
that thou knowest me. And he said to them:
When I sent you without purse, and scrip,
and shoes, did you want anything? But
they said: Nothing. Then said he unto
them: But now he that hath a purse, let
him take it, and likewise a scrip; and
he that hath not, let him sell his coat
and buy a sword. For I say to you, that
this that is written must yet be fulfilled
in me: And he was reckoned among the wicked:
for the things concerning me have an end.
But they said: Lord, behold here are two
swords And he said to them: It is enough.
And going out he went according to his
custom to the Mount of Olives. And his
disciples also followed him. And when
he was come to the place, he said to them:
Pray, lest ye enter into temptation. And
he was withdrawn away from them a stone's
cast; and kneeling down he prayed, saying:
Father, if thou wilt, remove this chalice
from me; but yet not my will, but thine
be done. And there appeared to him an
angel from heaven, strengthening him.
And being in an agony, he prayed the longer.
And his sweat became as drops of blood
trickling down upon the ground. And when
he rose up from prayer, and was come to
his disciples, he found them sleeping
for sorrow. And he said to them: Why sleep
you? Arise, pray, lest you enter into
temptation. As he was yet speaking, behold
a multitude; and he that was called Judas,
one of the twelve, went before them, and
drew near to Jesus to kiss him. And Jesus
said to him: Judas, dost thou betray the
Son of Man with a kiss? And they that
were about him, seeing what would follow,
said to him: Lord, shall we strike with
the sword? And one of them struck the
servant of the high-priest, and cut off
his right ear. But Jesus answering, said:
Suffer ye thus far. And when he had touched
his ear, he healed him. And Jesus said
to the chief priests and the magistrates
of the temple, and the ancients that
were come unto him: Are you come out,
as it were against a thief, with swords
and clubs? When I was daily with you in
the temple, you did not stretch forth
your hands against me; but this is your
hour, and the power of darkness. And apprehending
him, they led him to the high-priest's
house; but Peter followed afar off. And
when they had kindled a fire in the midst
of the hall, and were sitting about it,
Peter was in the midst of them. Whom when
a certain servant maid had seen him sitting
at the light, and had earnestly beheld
him, she said: This man also was with
him. But he denied, saying: Woman, I know
him not. And after a little while, another
seeing him, said: Thou also art one of
them. But Peter said: O man, I am not.
And after the space as it were of one
hour, another certain man affirmed, saying:
Of a truth this man was also with him;
for he is also a Galilean. And Peter said:
Man, I know not what thou sayest. And
immediately, as he was yet speaking, the
cock crew. And the Lord turning looked
on Peter. And Peter remembered the word
of the Lord, as he had said: Before the
cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
And Peter going out wept bitterly. And
the men that held him, mocked him, and
struck him. And they blind-folded him,
and smote him on the face. And they asked
him, saying: Prophesy, who is it that
struck thee? And many other things blaspheming,
they said against him. And as soon as
it was day, the ancients of the people,
and the chief priests, and scribes, came
together, and they brought him into their
council, saying: If thou be the Christ,
tell us. And he said to them: If I shall
tell you, you will not believe met and
if I shall also ask you, you will not
answer me, nor let me go. But hereafter
the Son of man shall be sitting on the
right hand of the power of God. Then said
they all: Art thou then the Son of God?
Who said: You say that I am. And they
said: What need we any further testimony?
For we ourselves have heard it from his
own mouth. (Chap. XXIII.) And the whole
multitude of them rising up, led him to
Pilate. And they began to accuse him,
saying: We have found this man perverting
our nation, and forbidding to give tribute
to Caesar, and saying that he is Christ
the king. And Pilate asked him, saying:
Art thou the king of the Jews? But he
answering, said: Thou sayest it. And Pilate
said to the chief priests and to the multitudes:
I find no cause in this man. But they
were more earnest, saying: He stirreth
up the people, teaching throughout all
Judea, beginning from Galilee to this
place. But Pilate hearing Galilee, asked
if the man were of Galilee? And when he
understood that he was of Herod's jurisdiction,
he sent him away to Herod, who himself
was also at Jerusalem in those days. And
Herod seeing Jesus was very glad, for
he was desirous of a long time to see
him, because he had heard many things
of him: and he hoped to see some sign
wrought by him. And he questioned him
with many words. But he answered him nothing.
And the chief priests and the scribes
stood by, earnestly accusing him. And
Herod with his army set him at nought,
and mocked him, putting on him a white
garment, and sent him back to Pilate.
And Herod and Pilate were made friends
that same day: for before they were enemies
one to another. Then Pilate calling together
the chief priests, and the magistrates,
and the people, said to them: You have
brought this man to me as one that perverteth
the people, and behold I, having examined
him before you, find no cause in this
man touching those things wherein you
accuse him. No, nor Herod neither. For
I sent you to him, and behold nothing
worthy of death is done to him. I will
chastise him, therefore, and release him.
Now of necessity he was to release unto
them one upon the feast day. But the whole
multitude together cried out at once,
saying: Away with this man, and release
unto us Barabbas, who for a certain sedition
made in the city, and for a murder, was
cast into prison. And Pilate again spoke
to them, desiring to release Jesus. But
they cried out again, saying: Crucify
him, crucify him. And he said to them
the third time: Why, what evil hath this
man done? I find no cause of death in
him. I will chastise him therefore, and
let him go. But they were instant with
loud voices requiring that he might be
crucified; and their voices prevailed.
And Pilate gave sentence that it should
be as they required. And he released unto
them him who for murder and sedition had
been cast into prison, whom they had desired:
but Jesus he delivered up to their will.
And as they led him away, they laid hold
of one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the
country; and they laid the cross on him
to carry after Jesus. And there followed
him a great multitude of people and of
women, who bewailed, and lamented him.
, But Jesus turning to them, said: Daughters
of Jerusalem, weep not over me, but weep
for yourselves, and for your children.
For behold the days shall came, wherein
they will say, Blessed are the barren,
and the wombs that have not borne, and
the paps that have not given suck. Then
shall they begin to say to the mountains:
Fall upon us; and to the hills, Cover
us. For if in the green wood, they do
these things, what shall be done in the
dry? And there were also two other malefactors
led with him, to be put to death. And
when they were come to the place which
is called Calvary, they crucified him
there; and the robbers, one on the right
hand, and the other on the left. And Jesus
said: Father, forgive them, far they know
not what they do. But they dividing his
garments cast lots. And the people stood
beholding, and the rulers with them derided
him, saying: He saved others, let him
save himself, if he be Christ, the elect
of God. And the soldiers also mocked him,
coming to him, and offering him vinegar,
and saying: If thou be the king of the
Jews, save thyself. And there was also
a superscription written over him in letters
of Greek, and Latin and Hebrew: This is
the King of the Jews. And one of those
robbers who were hanged, blasphemed him,
saying: If thou be Christ, save thyself
and us. But the other answering, rebuked
him, saying: neither dost thou fear God,
seeing thou art under the same condemnation.
And we indeed justly, for we receive the
due reward of our deeds: but this man
hath done no evil. And he said to Jesus:
Lord, remember me when thou shalt come
into thy kingdom. And Jesus said to him:
Amen, I say to thee, this day thou shalt
be with me in paradise. And it was almost
the sixth hour; and there was darkness
over all the earth until the ninth hour.
And the sun was darkened; and the veil
of the temple was rent in the midst. And
Jesus crying out with a loud voice, said:
Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.
And saying this, he gave up the ghost.
(Here all kneel and pause.) Now the centurion
seeing what was done, glorified God, saying:
Indeed this was a just man. And all the
multitude of them that were come together
to that sight, and saw the things that
were done, returned striking their breast.
And all his acquaintance, and the
women that had followed him from Galilee,
stood afar off, beholding these things.
And behold there was a man named Joseph,
who was a counsellor, a good and a just
man, (the same had not consented to their
counsel and doings,) of Arimathea, a city
of Judea, who also himself looked for
the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate
and begged the body of Jesus. And taking
him down he wrapped him in fine linen,
and laid him in a sepulchre that was hewed
in stone, wherein never yet any man had
been laid.
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