Gospel: Luke 23:1-49
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.
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Reflection:
Would you accompany Jesus in His journey this Holy Week?
When Jesus was already hanging on the cross
only a handful stood by Him: His mother Mary, His apostle John and a few
others. That is very understandable; for who would want to be identified with a
badly punished and defeated man hanging on the cross? No one, right?
Except for a few nobody wanted to be
identified with Jesus anymore. So unlike when Jesus was still performing
miracles and healings: everybody wanted to be identified with Him. However, amidst
the desertion of Jesus followers there was another man who suddenly had the
enlightenment to follow Jesus all the way to paradise. He was the criminal
hanging on the cross beside Jesus.
What was the key to the criminal’s sudden
salvation? He humbly asked Jesus to remember him when He is already in His
kingdom. The criminal’s humility was the key to his salvation. What does this
gospel episode tell us? We still have hope, we who’ve been betraying Jesus
through our countless sins. We too can go to that same paradise no matter how
grave the sins that we have committed. Provided we humble ourselves before
the Lord.
As we enter the door of Holy Week let us have
the determination to always be faithful to Jesus. Let us not be like Judas who
betrayed Jesus for a few silver coins. Let us not be like the crowd who left
Jesus because He was not doing miracles anymore.
Your way to paradise with Jesus begins by your presence at Holy Mass this
Palm Sunday. – Marino J. Dasmarinas
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