The Lord GOD has given me
the tongue of a teacher,
that I may know how to sustain
the weary with a word.
Morning by morning he wakens–
wakens my ear
to listen as those who are taught.
The Lord GOD has opened my ear,
and I was not rebellious,
I did not turn backward.
I gave my back to those who struck me,
and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;
I did not hide my face
from insult and spitting.
The Lord GOD helps me;
therefore I have not been disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know that I shall not be put to shame;
he who vindicates me is near.
Who will contend with me?
Let us stand up together.
Who are my adversaries?
Let them confront me.
It is the Lord GOD who helps me;
who will declare me guilty?
Psalm 31:9-16
9 Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble; *
my eye is consumed with sorrow,
and also my throat and my belly.
10 For my life is wasted with grief,
and my years with sighing; *
my strength fails me because of affliction,
and my bones are consumed.
11 I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbors,
a dismay to those of my acquaintance; *
when they see me in the street they avoid me.
12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; *
I am as useless as a broken pot.
13 For I have heard the whispering of the crowd;
fear is all around; *
they put their heads together against me;
they plot to take my life.
14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O LORD. *
I have said, "You are my God.
15 My times are in your hand; *
rescue me from the hand of my enemies,
and from those who persecute me.
16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, *
and in your loving-kindness save me."
Philippians 2:5-11
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death–
even death on a cross.
Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Mark 14:1-15:47
They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I
pray.” He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated.
And he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.”
And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were
possible, the hour might pass from him. He said, “Abba, Father, for you all things are
possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.” He came and
found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep
awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the
spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” And again he went away and prayed, saying
the same words. And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very
heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. He came a third time and said to them,
“Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is
betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”
Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; and with him
there was a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders.
Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him
and lead him away under guard.” So when he came, he went up to him at once and said,
“Rabbi!” and kissed him. Then they laid hands on him and arrested him. But one of those
who stood near drew his sword and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
Then Jesus said to them, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though
I were a bandit? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest
me. But let the scriptures be fulfilled.” All of them deserted him and fled.
A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught
hold of him, but he left the linen cloth and ran off naked.
They took Jesus to the high priest; and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes were
assembled. Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest;
and he was sitting with the guards, warming himself at the fire. Now the chief priests and
the whole council were looking for testimony against Jesus to put him to death; but they
found none. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony did not agree.
Some stood up and gave false testimony against him, saying, “We heard him say, ‘I will
destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made
with hands.’” But even on this point their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest
stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify
against you?” But he was silent and did not answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are
you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said, “I am; and
‘you will see the Son of Man
seated at the right hand of the Power,’
and ‘coming with the clouds of heaven.’”
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? You have
heard his blasphemy! What is your decision?” All of them condemned him as deserving
death. Some began to spit on him, to blindfold him, and to strike him, saying to him,
“Prophesy!” The guards also took him over and beat him.
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came by.
When she saw Peter warming himself, she stared at him and said, “You also were with
Jesus, the man from Nazareth.” But he denied it, saying, “I do not know or understand what
you are talking about.” And he went out into the forecourt. Then the cock crowed. And the
servant-girl, on seeing him, began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.”
But again he denied it. Then after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly
you are one of them; for you are a Galilean.” But he began to curse, and he swore an oath,
“I do not know this man you are talking about.” At that moment the cock crowed for the
second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows
twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
As soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes
and the whole council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.
Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “You say so.” Then
the chief priests accused him of many things. Pilate asked him again, “Have you no answer?
See how many charges they bring against you.” But Jesus made no further reply, so that
Pilate was amazed.
Now at the festival he used to release a prisoner for them, anyone for whom they asked.
Now a man called Barabbas was in prison with the rebels who had committed murder
during the insurrection. So the crowd came and began to ask Pilate to do for them according
to his custom. Then he answered them, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the
Jews?” For he realized that it was out of jealousy that the chief priests had handed him over.
But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead.
Pilate spoke to them again, “Then what do you wish me to do with the man you call the
King of the Jews?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Why, what evil
has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him!” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy
the crowd, released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be
crucified.
Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s
headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. And they clothed him in a purple
cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. And they began
saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him,
and knelt down in homage to him. After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak
and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross; it was
Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. Then they brought Jesus to the place
called Golgotha (which means the place of a skull). And they offered him wine mixed with
myrrh; but he did not take it. And they crucified him, and divided his clothes among them,
casting lots to decide what each should take.
It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge
against him read, “The King of the Jews.” And with him they crucified two bandits, one on
his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and
saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself,
and come down from the cross!” In the same way the chief priests, along with the scribes,
were also mocking him among themselves and saying, “He saved others; he cannot save
himself. Let the Messiah, the King of Israel, come down from the cross now, so that we may
see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also taunted him.
When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three
o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means,
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it,
they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah.” And someone ran, filled a sponge with sour
wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah
will come to take him down.” Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. And the
curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Now when the centurion, who
stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was
God’s Son!”
HYMNS
ALL GLORY, LAUD, AND HONOR
Refrain
All glory, laud, and honor to thee, Redeemer, King!
To whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring.
Thou art the King of Israel, thou David’s royal Son,
Who in the Lord’s Name comest, the King and Blessed One.
Refrain
The company of angels is praising thee on high;
And we with all creation in chorus make reply.
Refrain
The people of the Hebrews with palms before thee went;
Our praise and prayers and anthems before thee we present.
Refrain
To thee before thy passion they sang their hymns of praise;
To thee, now high exalted, our melody we raise.
Refrain
Thou didst accept their praises; accept the prayers we bring,
Who in all good delightest, thou good and gracious King.
Refrain
AH, HOLY JESUS
Ah, holy Jesus, how hast thou offended,
That man to judge thee hath in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by thine own rejected,
O most afflicted.
Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason Jesus hath undone thee.
‘Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee;
I crucified thee.
Lo, the Good Shepherd for the sheep is offered;
The slave hath sinned, and the Son hath suffered;
For our atonement, while we nothing heeded,
God interceded.
For me, kind Jesus, was thy incarnation,
Thy mortal sorrow, and thy life’s oblation;
Thy death of anguish, and thy bitter passion,
For my salvation.
Therefore, kind Jesus, since I cannot pay thee,
I do adore thee, and will ever pray thee,
Think on thy pity, and thy love unswerving,
Not my deserving.
IN THE CROSS OF CHRIST I GLORY
In the cross of Christ I glory,
Towering o’er the wrecks of time;
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.
When the woes of life o’ertake me,
Hopes deceive and fears annoy,
Never shall the cross forsake me;
Lo, it glows with peace and joy.
When the sun of bliss is beaming
Light and love upon my way,
From the cross the radiance streaming
Adds new luster to the day.
Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure,
By the cross is sanctified;
Peace is there that knows no measure,
Joys that through all time abide.
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
In union, O Lord, with your faithful people at every altar of your Church, where the Holy
Eucharist is now being celebrated, I desire to offer to you praise and thanksgiving. I
remember your death, Lord Christ; I proclaim your resurrection; I await your coming in
glory. Since I cannot receive you today in the Sacrament of your Body and Blood, I
beseech you to come spiritually into my heart. Cleanse and strengthen me with your
grace, Lord Jesus, and let me never be separated from you. May I live in you, and you
in me, in this life and in the life to come. Amen.
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