4.02.2023

 Today's Bible story *

April 2, 2023

Have a good day!

-----

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

-----

Gospel : Matthew 27:11-54

11 Now Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, "Are you the King of the Jews?"
Jesus said to him, "So you say."

12 When he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.

13 Then Pilate said to him, "Don't you hear how many things they testify against you?"

14 He gave him no answer, not even one word, so that the governor marvelled greatly.

15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner, whom they desired.

16 They had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

17 When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?"

18 For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.

19 While he was sitting on the judgement seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him."

20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitudes to ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

21 But the governor answered them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?"
They said, "Barabbas!"

22 Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do to Jesus, who is called Christ?"
They all said to him, "Let him be crucified!"

23 But the governor said, "Why? What evil has he done?"
But they cried out exceedingly, saying, "Let him be crucified!"

24 So when Pilate saw that nothing was being gained, but rather that a disturbance was starting, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this righteous person. You see to it."

25 All the people answered, "May his blood be on us, and on our children!"

26 Then he released to them Barabbas, but Jesus he flogged and delivered to be crucified.

27 Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium, and gathered the whole garrison together against him.

28 They stripped him, and put a scarlet robe on him.

29 They braided a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and a reed in his right hand; and they knelt down before him, and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

30 They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head.

31 When they had mocked him, they took the robe off of him, and put his clothes on him, and led him away to crucify him.

32 As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross.

33 When they came to a place called "Golgotha", that is to say, "The place of a skull,"

34 they gave him sour wine to drink mixed with gall. When he had tasted it, he would not drink.

35 When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing amongst them, casting lots,

36 and they sat and watched him there.

37 They set up over his head the accusation against him written, "THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS."

38 Then there were two robbers crucified with him, one on his right hand and one on the left.

39 Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads,

40 and saying, "You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"

41 Likewise the chief priests also mocking, with the scribes, the Pharisees, and the elders, said,

42 "He saved others, but he can't save himself. If he is the King of Israel, let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him.

43 He trusts in God. Let God deliver him now, if he wants him; for he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"

44 The robbers also who were crucified with him cast on him the same reproach.

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.

46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lima sabachthani?" That is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

47 Some of them who stood there, when they heard it, said, "This man is calling Elijah."

48 Immediately one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him a drink.

49 The rest said, "Let him be. Let's see whether Elijah comes to save him."

50 Jesus cried again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.

51 Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split.

52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;

53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.

54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God."

----

Isaiah 50:4-7

4 The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught,
that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary.
He wakens morning by morning,

he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.
5 The Lord GOD has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious.
I have not turned back.

6 I gave my back to those who beat me,
and my cheeks to those who plucked off the hair.
I didn't hide my face from shame and spitting.

7 For the Lord GOD will help me.
Therefore I have not been confounded.
Therefore I have set my face like a flint,
and I know that I shall not be disappointed.

-----

Philippians 2:6-11

6 who, existing in the form of God, didn't consider equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, yes, the death of the cross.

9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,

11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

-----

* The World English Bible
http://ebible.org/web/

◇ April 2, 2023 USCCB Daily Mass Readings
https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-april-2-2023

◇ Daily Readings April 2, 2023
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/040223.cfm

◇ Abiding Radio Instrumental (BGM)
https://www.abidingradio.org/radio/instrumental

◇ Today's Bible Story
http://todaysbiblestory.seesaa.net/

-----