One Walk

04082009

V

The Words of Jesus of Nazareth by Lee Cantelon

The Trial and the Cross

You have no power at all against me unless it is given to you from above.

Why do you prosecute me by these accusations? Interrogate those who heard me teach. They know very well the things I have said. I did not spread my message in secret, but spoke openly for the world to hear, teaching publicly in places of worship and the courtyards of the temple where my followers gathered.

If what I have said violates your laws, then give evidence of this. But if I have spoken the truth, then why do you strike me?

My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my followers would have taken up arms to defend it, that I should not be delivered into your hands. But mine is not an earthly kingdom. Yet you are right when you accuse me of being a king. To this end was I born, and for this purpose I came into the world: that I should be a witness to the truth. All who love the truth recognize my message. Now will the prince of this world be overthrown, and if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to me.

This above all is why my Father loves me; for I lay down my life willingly that I might take it up again. No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own free will. I have the power to lay it down; and I have the power to take it up again. The Father has given me this power.

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

V

Lord God, Abba Father, one thing I know, You have planted in my heart the need to know, serve and love You. Though I tried to ignore and even turned away from You thinking I was, I could, I would, I can; through Your love and the love of Jesus, I am awakened to what I am. I child of the Lord God, Abba Father through the passion of Jesus I am able to come to forgiven, washed clean of myself, covered in You forgiveness, acceptance and love; so I can give to others this which You give me. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

V

We must show charity towards the sick, who are in greater need of help. Let us take them some small gift if they are poor, or, at least let us go and wait on them and comfort them.

— St. Alphonsus Liguori

V

Reading 1
Is 50:4-9a
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.
He is near who upholds my right;
if anyone wishes to oppose me,
let us appear together.
Who disputes my right?
Let him confront me.
See, the Lord GOD is my help;
who will prove me wrong?

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34
R. (14c) Lord, in your great love, answer me.
For your sake I bear insult,
and shame covers my face.
I have become an outcast to my brothers,
a stranger to my mother’s sons,
because zeal for your house consumes me,
and the insults of those who blaspheme you fall upon me.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak,
I looked for sympathy, but there was none;
for consolers, not one could I find.
Rather they put gall in my food,
and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
I will praise the name of God in song,
and I will glorify him with thanksgiving:
"See, you lowly ones, and be glad;
you who seek God, may your hearts revive!
For the LORD hears the poor,
and his own who are in bonds he spurns not."
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.

Gospel
Mt 26:14-25
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."

V

MP3 audio link to today’s readings:

http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/09_04_08.mp3

Audio books I am listening to and other books or readings I am reading:

http://www.richardangulo.com/reading

V