Golden Light Bearer: DAILY MASS READING

Holy Week

Sunday, April 01, 2012
Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

FIRST READING

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 a word him that is weary. Morning by morning he wakens, 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 turned not backward.6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.7 For the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been confounded; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame;

PSALM RESPONSES

Psalms 22: 8 - 9, 17 - 20, 23 – 24

8 "He committed his cause to the LORD; let him deliver him, let him rescue him, for he delights in him!"9 Yet thou art he who took me from the womb; thou didst keep me safe upon my mother's breasts.

17 I can count all my bones -- they stare and gloat over me;18 they divide my garments among them, and for my raiment they cast lots.19 But thou, O LORD, be not far off! O thou my help, hasten to my aid!20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my life from the power of the dog!

23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! all you sons of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you sons of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; and he has not hid his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him

SECOND READING

Philippians 2: 6 – 11

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.8 And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name,10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father

GOSPEL

Mark 15: 1 – 39

1 And as soon as it was morning the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council held a consultation; and they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him to Pilate.2 And Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answered him, "You have said so."3 And the chief priests accused him of many things.4 And Pilate again asked him, "Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you."5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate wondered.6 Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked.7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barab'bas.8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he was wont to do for them.9 And he answered them, "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?"10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up.11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barab'bas instead.12 And Pilate again said to them, "Then what shall I do with the man whom you call the King of the Jews?"13 And they cried out again, "Crucify him."14 And Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Cruciy him."15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barab'bas; and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the praetorium); and they called together the whole battalion.17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and plaiting a crown of thorns they put it on him.18 And they began to salute him, "Hail, King of the Jews!"19 And they struck his head with a reed, and spat upon him, and they knelt down in homage to him.20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.21 And they compelled a passer-by, Simon of Cyre'ne, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.22 And they brought him to the place called Gol'gotha (which means the place of a skull).23 And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh; but he did not take it.24 And they crucified him, and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take.25 And it was the third hour, when they crucified him