Readings for Sunday, April 2, 2023
Lectionary: 37 and 38
Ħadd il-Palm u l-Passjoni tal-Mulej
At the Procession with Palms -
Waqt it-Tifkira tad-Daħla tal-Mulej f’Ġerusalemm
Gospel - MATTHEW 21:1-11
When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find an ass tethered, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them here to me. And if anyone should say anything to you, reply, 'The master has need of them.' Then he will send them at once." This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled: Say to daughter Zion, "Behold, your king comes to you, meek and riding on an ass, and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden." The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them. They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them, and he sat upon them. The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: "Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest." And when he entered Jerusalem the whole city was shaken and asked, "Who is this?" And the crowds replied, "This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee."
Evanġelju Qari skond San Mattew 21, 1-11
Xħin waslu qrib Ġerusalemm u ġew quddiem Betfaġe lejn l-Għolja taż-Żebbuġ, Ġesù bagħat żewġ dixxipli u qalilhom: “Aslu sar-raħal biswitkom; u minnufih issibu ħmara marbuta u felu ħdejha; ħolluhom u ġibuhomli. Jekk xi ħadd jgħidilkom xi ħaġa, weġbuh: “Il-Mulej jeħtieġhom, u malajr jerġa’ jibgħathom lura””. Dan ġara biex iseħħ dak li kien ingħad permezz tal-profeta, meta qal: “Għidu lil bint Sijon: “Ara, is-Sultan tiegħek ġej għandek, ġwejjed, riekeb fuq ħmara u fuq felu, ferħ ta’ bhima tat-tagħbija””. Id-dixxipli marru u għamlu kif ordnalhom Ġesù; ġiebu l-ħmara u l-felu, qiegħdu fuqhom l-imnatar tagħhom, u hu qagħad fuqhom. Għadd kbir ta’ nies firxu l-imnatar tagħhom fit-triq, waqt li oħrajn qatgħu xi friegħi mis-siġar u ferrxuhom mat-triq. Il-folol li kienu miexja quddiem u dawk li kienu miexja wara bdew jgħajtu u jgħidu: “Hosanna lil Bin David! Imbierek min ġej f’isem il-Mulej! Hosanna fl-ogħla tas-smewwiet!”. Meta mbagħad daħal Ġerusalemm, il-belt kollha tqanqlet u n-nies bdew jgħidu: “Dan min hu?” U l-folol weġbuhom: “Dan hu l-profeta Ġesù minn Nażaret tal-Galilija”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
At the Mass - Waqt Il-Quddiesa
Reading 1 ISAIAH 50:4-7
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.
Qari 1 Isaiaja 50, 4-7
Sidi l-Mulej tani lsien ta’ wieħed jitgħallem, biex nagħraf ngħin lill-għajjien b’xi kelma. Ta’ kull filgħodu jqajjimli lil widinti, biex nisma’ bħal wieħed jitgħallem. Sidi l-Mulej fetaħli widinti, u jiena ma webbistx rasi, ma rġajtx lura. Tajt dahri lil dawk li kienu jsawtuni, ħaddejja lil dawk li kien jnittfuli lħiti; ma ħbejtx wiċċi mit-tagħjir u l-bżieq. Sidi l-Mulej jgħinni, għalhekk ma nitħawwadx; għalhekk għamilt wiċċi bħaż-żnied: jien naf li ma jkollix mniex nistħi. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej.
Responsorial Psalm PSALM 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads:
“He relied on the LORD; let him deliver him,
let him rescue him, if he loves him.”
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
a pack of evildoers closes in upon me;
They have pierced my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
and for my vesture they cast lots.
But you, O LORD, be not far from me;
O my help, hasten to aid me.
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
“You who fear the LORD, praise him;
all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him;
revere him, all you descendants of Israel!”
R. My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
R/. (2a): Alla tiegħi, Alla tiegħi, għaliex tlaqtni?
jgħajbuni, iħarrku rashom u jgħidu:
“F’idejn il-Mulej intelaq; ħa jeħilsu hu!
Ħa jsalvah hu, għax bih jitgħaxxaq!”. R/.
Qabda klieb daru għalija;
ġemgħa nies ħżiena rassewni.
Taqqbuli idejja u riġlejja;
nista’ ngħodd għadmi kollu. R/.
Ħwejġi qasmu bejniethom,
jaqtgħu x-xorti għal-libsa tiegħi.
Mulej, la titbegħidx minni;
qawwa tiegħi, fittex għinni! R/.
Inxandar ismek lil ħuti;
infaħħrek f’nofs il-ġemgħa.
Faħħru l-Mulej, intom li tibżgħu minnu;
sebbħuh ilkoll, nisel Ġakobb
Ibżgħu minnu lkoll, ulied Iżrael! R/.
Reading 2 PHILIPPIANS 2:6-11
Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Qari 2 mill-Ittra lill-Filippin 2, 6-11
Ġesù Kristu li għad li kellu n-natura ta’ Alla, ma qagħadx ifittex tiegħu li hu daqs Alla, iżda xejjen lilu nnifsu billi ħa n-natura ta’ lsir, sar jixbah lill-bnedmin, u deher minn barra bħala bniedem; ċekken lilu nnifsu, billi obda sal-mewt, anzi sal-mewt tas-salib. Għalhekk Alla għollieh sas-smewwiet u żejnu bl-isem li hu fuq kull isem, biex fl-isem ta’ Ġesù – fis-sema, fl-art u f’qiegħ l-art – il-ħlejjaq kollha jinżlu għarrkubbtejhom, u kull ilsien jistqarr: “Ġesù Kristu hu l-Mulej”, għall-glorja ta’ Alla l-Missier. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
Gospel MATTHEW 26:14—27:66
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:
Then Jesus said to them, "This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed; but after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee." Peter said to him in reply, "Though all may have their faith in you shaken, mine will never be." Jesus said to him, "Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." Peter said to him, "Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you." And all the disciples spoke likewise. Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress.Then he said to them, "My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me." He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will." When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, "So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, "My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass
without my drinking it, your will be done!" Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open. He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time, saying the same thing again. Then he returned to his disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand when the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. Look, my betrayer is at hand."
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd, with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests and the elders of the people. His betrayer had arranged a sign with them, saying, "The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him." Immediately he went over to Jesus and said, "Hail, Rabbi!" and he kissed him. Jesus answered him, "Friend, do what you have come for." Then stepping forward they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. And behold, one of those who accompanied Jesus put his hand to his sword, drew it, and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot call upon my Father and he will not provide me at this moment with more than twelve legions of angels? But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilled which say that it must come to pass in this way?" At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me? Day after day I sat teaching in the temple area, yet you did not arrest me. But all this has come to pass that the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled." Then all the disciples left him and fled. Those who had arrested Jesus led him away
to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled. Peter was following him at a distance as far as the high priest's courtyard, and going inside he sat down with the servants to see the outcome. The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward who stated, "This man said, 'I can destroy the temple of God and within three days rebuild it.'" The high priest rose and addressed him, "Have you no answer? What are these men testifying against you?" But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I order you to tell us under oath before the living God whether you are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him in reply, "You have said so. But I tell you: From now on you will see 'the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power' and 'coming on the clouds of heaven.'" Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed! What further need have we of witnesses? You have now heard the blasphemy; what is your opinion?" They said in reply, "He deserves to die!" Then they spat in his face and struck him, while some slapped him, saying, "Prophesy for us, Christ: who is it that struck you?"
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the maids came over to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about!" As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazorean." Again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man!" A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you away." At that he began to curse and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: "Before the cock crows you will deny me three times." He went out and began to weep bitterly.
When it was morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, deeply regretted what he had done. He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, "I have sinned in betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? Look to it yourself." Flinging the money into the temple, he departed and went off and hanged himself. The chief priests gathered up the money, but said, "It is not lawful to deposit this in the temple treasury, for it is the price of blood." After consultation, they used it to buy the potter's field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why that field even today is called the Field of Blood. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of a man with a price on his head, a price set by some of the Israelites, and they paid it out for the potter's field just as the Lord had commanded me.
Now Jesus stood before the governor, and he questioned him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You say so." And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?" But he di d not answer him one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Now on the occasion of the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the crowd one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them,
"Which one do you want me to release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?" For he knew that it was out of envy that they had handed him over. While he was still seated on the bench, his wife sent him a message, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man. I suffered much in a dream today because of him." The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus. The governor said to them in reply, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They answered, "Barabbas!" Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified!" But he said, "Why? What evil has he done?" They only shouted the louder, "Let him be crucified!" When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood. Look to it yourselves." And the whole people said in reply, "His blood be upon us and upon our children." Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetorium and gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped off his clothes and threw a scarlet military cloak about him. Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head, and a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" They spat upon him and took the reed and kept striking him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him off to crucify him. As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon; this man they pressed into service to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha —which means Place of the Skull —, they gave Jesus wine t o drink mixed with gall. But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink.
After they had crucified him, they divided his garments by casting lots; then they sat down and kept watch over him there. And they placed over his head the written charge against him: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and the other on his left. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself, if you are the Son of God, and come down from the cross!" Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. So he is the king of Israel! Let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusted in God; let him
(Here all kneel and pause for a short time.)
And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many. The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, "Truly, this was the Son of God!" There were many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him. Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, who was himself a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over. Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linen and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock.
Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed. But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting there, facing the tomb. The next day, the one following the day of preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember that this impostor while still alive said, 'After three days I will be raised up.' Give orders, then, that the grave be secured until the third day, lest his disciples come and steal him and say to the people, 'He has been raised from the dead.' This last imposture would be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "The guard is yours; go, secure it as best you can." So they went and secured the tomb by fixing a seal to the stone and setting the guard.
Evanġelju Il-Passjoni ta’ Sidna Ġesù Kristu skond San Mattew 26, 14 – 27, 66
F’dak iż-żmien, wieħed mit-Tnax, jismu Ġuda l-Iskarjota, mar għand il-qassisin il-kbar u qalilhom: “Xi tridu tagħtuni u jiena nagħtikom lil Ġesù f’idejkom?” U huma tawh tletin biċċa tal-fidda bħala ħlas. Minn dak il-ħin beda jfittex okkażjoni tajba biex jagħtihom lil Ġesù f’idejhom. Fl-ewwel jum tal-Ażżmi d-dixxipli resqu lejn Ġesù u qalulu: “Fejn tridna nħejjulek l-ikla tal-Għid?” U hu qalilhom: “Morru l-belt għand it-tali, u għidulu: “Qallek l-Imgħallem: Is-siegħa tiegħi waslet; jien se nagħmel l-ikla tal-Għid għandek mad-dixxipli tiegħi”.” Id-dixxipli għamlu kif ordnalhom Ġesù u ħejjew l-ikla ta’ l-Għid. Għall-ħin ta’ filgħaxija qagħad fuq il-mejda flimkien mat-Tnax, u waqt l-ikel qal: “Tassew ngħidilkom, li wieħed minnkom se jittradini”. Huma bdew isewdu qalbhom ħafna u kull wieħed minnhom beda jsaqsih: “Jaqaw jien, Mulej?” U Ġesù weġibhom: “Dak li jmidd idu u jbill il-ħobż fi platt wieħed miegħi, dak li se jittradini. Bin il-bniedem imur kif hemm miktub fuqu imma ħażin għalih dak il-bniedem li permezz tiegħu Bin il-bniedem ikun mogħti f’idejn l-għedewwa! Kien ikun aħjar għalih dak il-bniedem li kieku ma twieled xejn!”. Qabeż Ġuda, dak li ttradieh, u qallu: “Jaqaw jien, Rabbi?” Wieġbu Ġesù: “Int qiegħed tgħidu”. Huma u jieklu, Ġesù ħa l-ħobż f’idejh, qal il-barka, qasmu, newlu lid-dixxipli u qal: “Ħudu, kulu, dan hu ġismi”. Imbagħad ħa l-kalċi f’idejh, radd il-ħajr, newlilhom il-kalċi u qal: “Ixorbu lkoll minnu, għax dan huwa demmi, id-demm tal-Patt, li jixxerred għall-kotra għall-maħfra tad-dnubiet. Ngħidilkom, li ma nerġax nixrob iżjed minn dan il-frott tad-dielja sa dakinhar li nixrob inbid ġdid magħkom fis-Saltna ta’ Missieri”. Kantaw is-salmi u ħarġu lejn l-Għolja taż-Żebbuġ. Imbagħad Ġesù qalilhom: “Ilkoll kemm intom se titħawdu minħabba fija f’dan il-lejl; għax hemm miktub: “Nidrob ir-ragħaj, u n-nagħaġ tal-merħla jitferrxu”. Imma wara li nqum mill-mewt, immur il-Galilija qabilkom”. Qabeż Pietru u qallu: “Jekk kulħadd jitħawwad minħabba fik, jiena ma nitħawwad qatt”.
Qallu Ġesù: “Tassew, ngħidlek, li dal-lejl, qabel ma jidden is-serduk, int tkun ġa ċħadtni tliet darbiet”. Qallu Pietru: “Le, ma niċħdekx, anqas jekk ikolli mmut miegħek!”. U d-dixxipli l-oħra wkoll, kulħadd qal l-istess. Imbagħad Ġesù flimkien mad-dixxipli tiegħu wasal f’qasam, jgħidulu l-Ġetsemani, u qal lid-dixxipli: “Oqogħdu bilqiegħda hawn sakemm immur hemmhekk nitlob”. U ħa miegħu lil Pietru u ż-żewġ ulied ta’ Żebedew, u beda jsewwed qalbu u jiddejjaq. Imbagħad qalilhom: “Għandi ruħi mnikkta għall-mewt, ibqgħu hawn u ishru miegħi”. Mexa kemmxejn ’il quddiem, inxteħet wiċċu fl-art jitlob u jgħid: “Missier, jekk jista’ jkun, biegħed minni dan il-kalċi! Imma mhux kif irrid jien, iżda kif trid int”. Ġie ħdejn id-dixxipli u sabhom reqdin; u qal lil Pietru: “Mela ma flaħtux tishru siegħa waħda miegħi? Ishru u itolbu biex ma tidħlux fit-tiġrib. L-ispirtu, iva, irid; imma l-ġisem dgħajjef”. Għat-tieni darba raġa’ mar jitlob u qal: “Missieri, jekk dan il-kalċi ma jistax jgħaddi mingħajr ma nixorbu, tkun magħmula r-rieda tiegħek”. Mill-ġdid ġie u sabhom reqdin, għax għajnejhom kienu tqal bin-ngħas. Ħalliehom, u raġa’ mar jitlob għat-tielet darba, u qal l-istess kliem. Imbagħad ġie ħdejn id-dixxipli u qalilhom: “Issa se torqdu u tistrieħu? Ara, is-siegħa waslet, u Bin il-bniedem se jkun mogħti f’idejn il-midinbin. Qumu! Ejjew immorru! Araw, dak li se jittradini huwa fil-qrib!”. Kif kien għadu jitkellem, ġie Ġuda, wieħed mit-Tnax, b’ġemgħa kbira ta’ nies miegħu, armati bis-sjuf u l-bsaten, mibgħuta mill-qassisin il-kbar u x-xjuħ tal-poplu. Issa dak li kien se jittradih kien tahom sinjal u qalilhom: “Lil dak li nbus, dak hu: aqbduh”. U minnufih resaq fuq Ġesù; u qallu: “Is-sliem għalik, Rabbi!”. U biesu. U Ġesù qallu: “Ħabib, għalhekk ġejt int!”.
Huma resqu lejh, meddew idejhom fuq Ġesù u qabduh. Wieħed minn dawk li kienu ma’ Ġesù ħareġ idu u silet is-sejf, darab lill-qaddej tal-qassis il-kbir u qatagħlu widintu. Imbagħad Ġesù qallu: “Erġa’ daħħal sejfek f’postu għax kull min jaqbad is-sejf, bis-sejf jinqered. Taħseb int li ma nistax nitlob lil Missieri u jibgħatli issa stess aktar minn tnax-il leġjun ta’ anġli? Iżda mbagħad kif isseħħ l-Iskrittura li tgħid li hekk għandu jsir?” Fl-istess waqt Ġesù qal: “Qiskom ħriġtu għal xi ħalliel, armati bis-sjuf u bil-bsaten biex taqbdu lili! Jien kuljum kont inkun bilqiegħda fit-tempju ngħallem, u ma żammejtunix. Iżda dan kollu ġara biex isseħħ il-kitba tal-profeti”. rbu. Dawk li qabdu lil Ġesù ħaduh quddiem Kajfa, il-qassis il-kbir, fejn ġa kienu nġabru l-kittieba u x-xjuħ. Pietru kien baqa’ miexi warajh mill-bogħod sal-palazz tal-qassis il-kbir; daħal ġewwa u qagħad bilqiegħda mal-qaddejja biex jara kif kienet se tintemm il-biċċa. Il-qassisin il-kbar u s-Sinedriju kollha bdew ifittxu xhieda foloz kontra Ġesù bil-ħsieb li jagħtuh il-mewt, iżda għalkemm resqu bosta xhieda foloz, ma sabux fuqiex jixluh. Fl-aħħar resqu tnejn u qalu: “Dan qal: “Nista’ nħott it-tempju ta’ Alla u nerġa’ nibnih fi tlitt ijiem”.” Il-qassis il-kbir qam u qallu: “Xejn ma twieġeb? X’inhuma jixhdu dawn kontra tiegħek?” Imma Ġesù baqa’ sieket. Imbagħad il-qassis il-kbir qabad u qallu:
Intant Pietru kien hemm barra bilqiegħda, fil-bitħa tal-palazz. U resqet fuqu waħda qaddejja u qaltlu: “Int ukoll kont ma’ Ġesù tal-Galilija!”. Imma hu ċaħad quddiem kulħadd u qal: “Anqas naf xi trid tgħid”. Imbagħad warrab lejn il-bieb, lemħitu qaddejja oħra u qalet lil dawk li kienu hemm: “Dan kien ma’ Ġesù ta’ Nażaret”. U raġa’ ċaħad u ħalef: “Jien ma nafux lil dan il-bniedem!”. Wara ftit dawk l-istess nies resqu lejn Pietru u qalulu: “Tassew, inti wkoll wieħed minnhom, għax għandek il-kisra ta’ kliemek tikxfek”. Imbagħad qabad jisħet lilu nnifsu u jaħlef: “Le, ma nafux lil dan il-bniedem!”. U minnufih is-serduk idden. U Pietru ftakar fil-kliem ta’ Ġesù meta qallu: “Qabel ma s-serduk jidden, int tkun ġa ċħadtni tliet darbiet”. U ħareġ ’il barra jibki biki ta’ qsim il-qalb. L-għada filgħodu l-qassisin il-kbar u x-xjuħ tal-poplu ftiehmu lkoll bejniethom biex lil Ġesù jaqtgħuhielu għall-mewt. Rabtuh u ħaduh magħhom biex jagħtuh f’idejn Pilatu, il-gvernatur. Imbagħad Ġuda, it-traditur, meta ra li Ġesù kien ikkundannat, nidem u mar bit-tletin biċċa tal-fidda għand il-qassisin il-kbar u x-xjuħ biex jerġa’ jagħtihomlhom lura; u qalilhom: “Dnibt, għax ittradejt demm bla ħtija!”. Iżda huma qalulu: “Aħna din x’inhi affari tagħna? Dak arah int!”. Hu waddab il-flus fis-santwarju, telaq u mar tgħallaq. Imbagħad il-qassisin il-kbar ġabru l-flus minn hemm u qalu: “Dawn ma nistgħux inqegħduhom ma’ l-offerti, għax huma prezz tad-demm”. Ftiehmu bejniethom, u b’dawk il-flus xtraw “l-Għalqa ta’ Ħaddiem il-Fuħħar,” biex fiha jidfnu l-barranin. Kien għalhekk li dik l-għalqa ssemmiet “l-Għalqa tad-Demm”, u hekk għadha magħrufa sa llum. Imbagħad seħħ dak li kien ingħad permezz tal-profeta Ġeremija meta qal: “U ħadu t-tletin biċċa tal-fidda, il-prezz ta’ dak li kien stmat bil-prezz mogħti minn ulied Iżrael, u tawhom għall-għalqa ta’ ħaddiem il-fuħħar, kif ikkmandani l-Mulej”. Ġesù waqaf quddiem il-gvernatur, u dan staqsieh: “Int is-sultan tal-Lhud?” U Ġesù wieġbu: “Int qiegħed tgħidu”. Iżda meta l-qassisin il-kbar u x-xjuħ bdew jakkużawh, hu ma wieġeb xejn. Għalhekk Pilatu qallu: “M’intix tisma’ kemm ħwejjeġ qegħdin jixhdu kontra tiegħek?” Iżda hu anqas għal akkuża waħda ma wieġeb, hekk li l-gvernatur baqa’ mistagħġeb ħafna.
Nhar ta’ festa, il-gvernatur kien soltu jitlaq wieħed ħabsi, lil min iridu huma. Dik il-ħabta kellhom wieħed ħabsi magħruf, jismu Barabba. Mela kif kienu miġbura, Pilatu qalilhom: “Lil min triduni nitilqilkom, lil Barabba jew lil Ġesù li jgħidulu l-Messija?” Għax hu kien jaf li kienet l-għira li ġagħlithom jagħtuh lil Ġesù f’idejh. Issa waqt li kien bilqiegħda fuq is-siġġu tat-tribunal, martu bagħtet tgħidlu: “Qis li ma jkollokx x’taqsam ma’ dan ir-raġel ġust, għax illum minħabba fih batejt ħafna fil-ħolm”. Iżda l-qassisin il-kbar u x-xjuħ ġiegħlu l-poplu jitolbuh lil Barabba u jeqirdu lil Ġesù. Il-gvernatur, mela, raġa’ staqsiehom: “Lil min triduni nitilqilkom minnhom it-tnejn?” Weġbuh ilkoll: “Lil Babrabba”. Qalilhom Pilatu: “U x’nagħmel b’Ġesù li jgħidulu l-Messija?” Weġbuh ilkoll: “Sallbu!”. Hu staqsiehom: “Imma x’għamel ħażin?” Huma aktar bdew jgħajtu u jgħidu: “Sallbu!”. Meta mbagħad Pilatu ra li kollox kien għal xejn, anzi li aktarx kienet se tinqala’ xi rewwixta, qabad, ħasel idejh fl-ilma quddiem il-poplu u qal: “Jien m’iniex ħati ta’ dan id-demm: dan arawh intom!”. U l-poplu kollu qabeż u qal: “Demmu fuqna u fuq uliedna!”. Imbagħad telqilhom lil Barabba, u lil Ġesù, wara li tah is-swat, tahulhom biex isallbuh. Imbagħad is-suldati tal-gvernatur ħadu lil Ġesù fil-Pretorju, u ġabru quddiemu lil sħabhom kollha. Neżżgħuh, u xeħtulu fuqu mantar aħmar skur; qegħdulu fuq rasu kuruna minsuġa mix-xewk u qasba f’idu l-leminija, inxteħtu għarkubbtejhom quddiemu, u qagħdu jiddieħku bih u jgħidulu: “Is-sliem għalik, sultan tal-Lhud!”. Beżqu fuqu, u ħadulu l-qasba minn idu u bdew jagħtuh biha fuq rasu. Imbagħad, wara li għaddewh biż-żufjett, neżżgħulu l-mantar u xeddewlu ħwejġu. U ħaduh magħhom biex isallbuh. Huma u sejrin sabu raġel minn Ċireni, jismu Xmun, u ġagħluh jerfagħlu s-salib. Meta waslu f’post jgħidulu Golgota, jiġifieri post il-Qorriegħa, tawh jixrob inbid b’taħlita morra; hu daqu, imma ma riedx jixorbu. Imbagħad sallbuh, u qassmu ħwejġu bejniethom billi tellgħuhom bix-xorti, u nxteħtu bilqiegħda u qagħdu hemm għassa tiegħu. U qegħdulu fuq rasu l-kawża tal-kundanna tiegħu li kienet tgħid hekk: “Dan hu Ġesù, is-sultan tal-Lhud”. Imbagħad miegħu sallbu żewġ ħallelin, wieħed fuq il-lemin u l-ieħor fuq ix-xellug. Dawk li kienu għaddejjin bdew jgħajruh, iċaqilqu rashom u jgħidu: “Int li tħott it-tempju u fi tlitt ijiem terġa’ tibnih, salva lilekinnifsek jekk int l-Iben ta’ Alla, u inżel minn fuq is-salib!”.
Hekk ukoll il-qassisin il-kbar bdew jiddieħku bih mal-kittieba u x-xjuħ u jgħidu: “Salva oħrajn, lilu nnifsu ma jistax isalva! Hu s-sultan ta’ Iżrael! Ħa jinżel issa minn fuq is-salib u nemmnu fih! Hu jafda f’Alla; ħa jeħilsu issa, jekk iħobbu! Għax hu qal: “Jiena Bin Alla!”. U bl-istess mod bdew imaqdruh ukoll il-ħallelin li kienu msallbin miegħu. Mis-sitt siegħa ’l quddiem waqgħet dalma kbira fuq il-pajjiż kollu sad-disa’ siegħa. U madwar id-disa’ siegħa Ġesù għajjat b’leħen qawwi u qal: “Elì, Elì, lemà sabaqtàni?” Jiġifieri: “Alla tiegħi, Alla tiegħi, għaliex tlaqtni?” Xi wħud minn dawk li kienu hemm, kif semgħuh, qalu: “Lil Elija qiegħed isejjaħ dan!”. U minnufih wieħed minnhom mar jiġri, qabad sponża mimlija bil-ħall, waħħalha f’tarf ta’ qasba u tah jixrob, waqt li l-oħrajn qalu: “Stenna, ħa naraw jiġix Elija jsalvah!”. Imma Ġesù raġa’ għajjat għajta kbira u radd ruħu. (Kulħadd jinżel għarkubbtejh u jinżamm is-skiet għal ftit ħin.) U ara l-purtiera tas-santwarju ċċarrtet fi tnejn minn fuq s’isfel; l-art theżhżet, il-blat inqasam, u l-oqbra nfetħu, u qamu ħafna iġsma ta’ qaddisin li kienu mietu, li ħarġu mill-oqbra u wara l-qawmien tiegħu daħlu fil-Belt imqaddsa u dehru lil bosta nies.Iċ-ċenturjun u dawk li kienu miegħu għassa ta’ Ġesù, kif raw l-art titheżheż u jiġri dak kollu, i mtlew b’biża’ li ma bħalu u qalu: “Dan kien tassew Bin Alla!”.
Hemmhekk kien hemm ħafna nisa jħarsu mill-bogħod, dawk stess li kienu mxew wara Ġesù biex jaqduh sa minn meta kien għadu fil-Galilija: fosthom kien hemm Marija ta’ Magdala, Marija omm Ġakbu u Ġużeppi u omm ulied Żebedew. Xħin sar fil-għaxija, ġie raġel għani, minn Arimatija, jismu Ġużeppi, li hu wkoll kien sar dixxiplu ta’ Ġesù; mar għand Pilatu u talbu l-ġisem ta’ Ġesù. Imbagħad Pilatu ordna li jingħatalu. Ġużeppi ħa l-ġisem u keffnu f’liżar nadif, qiegħdu fil-qabar ġdid tiegħu li kien ħaffer fil-blat, gerbeb ġebla kbira fid-daħla tal-qabar, u telaq. Iżda Marija ta’ Magdala u Marija l-oħra baqgħu hemm bilqiegħda biswit il-qabar. L-għada, jiġifieri meta għadda Jum it-Tħejjija, il-qassisin il-kbar u l-Fariżej inġabru għand Pilatu u qalulu: “Sinjur, aħna ftakarna li dan il-bniedem qarrieq, meta kien għadu ħaj, qal: “Wara tlitt ijiem inqum”. Mela ordna li l-qabar ikun imħares tajjeb sat-tielet jum, li ma jmorrux jiġu d-dixxipli tiegħu jisirquh, u jgħidu lill-poplu: “Qam mill-imwiet”. U hekk il-qerq tal-aħħar ikun agħar minn tal-ewwel!”. Qalilhom Pilatu: “Għandkom l-għassa. Morru ħarsuh tajjeb kif tafu”. U huma marru jissiġillaw il-ġebla biex il-qabar jibqa’ mħares sewwa, u ħallew ukoll l-għassa miegħu. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
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Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr. Anthony Kadavil
COMMEMORATING AND RELIVING OUR REDEMPTION
Introduction:
The Church celebrates this sixth Sunday of Lent as both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. This is the place in the Liturgical year when the Church stop us so that we can remember and relive the events which brought about our redemption and salvation. What we commemorate and relive during this week is not just Jesus’ dying and rising, but our own dying to sin and selfishness and rising in Jesus, which will result in our healing, reconciliation, and redemption.
Attentive participation in the Holy Week liturgy will deepen our relationship with God, increase our Faith, and strengthen our lives as disciples of Jesus. Today’s liturgy combines contrasting moments, one of glory, the other of suffering: the royal welcome of Jesus in Jerusalem, and the rigged trial, culminating in the crucifixion, death, and burial of the Christ.
Scripture lessons summarised:
The first part of today’s Gospel describes the royal reception Jesus received from his admirers, who paraded with him for a distance of the two miles between the Mount of Olives and the city of Jerusalem. In the second part of today’s Gospel, we listen to/participate in a reading of the Passion of Christ according to Matthew. We are challenged to examine our own lives in the light of some of the characters in the Passion story – like Peter who denied Jesus, Judas who betrayed Jesus, Herod who ridiculed Jesus, Pilate who acted against his conscience as he condemned Jesus to death on the cross, and the leaders of the people who preserved their position by getting rid of Jesus.
Life Messages:
1) Let us not cause Jesus to weep over us. Instead, let us repent and weep over our sins remembering the Jewish saying, “Heaven rejoices over a repentant sinner and sheds tears over a non-repentant, hardhearted one.” We need to imitate the prodigal son and return to God, our loving Father through the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this last week of Lent and participate fully in the joy of Christ’s Resurrection.
2) We need to be fruit-producing, not barren, fig trees. God expects me to produce fruits of holiness, purity, justice, humility, obedience, charity, and forgiveness, instead of leading a barren spiritual life.
3) Let us not desecrate our heart and prompt Jesus to cleanse it with His whip.Jesus cannot tolerate the desecration of our soul, the temple of the Holy Spirit by our addiction to uncharitable, unjust and impure thoughts, words, and deeds.
4) We need to welcome Jesus into our hearts in a special way during the Holy Week as his supporters did on Palm Sunday by welcoming Him into all areas of our life as our Lord and Savior, singing “Hosanna,” and surrendering our lives to Jesus during this Holy Week.
5) We need to be ready to become like the humble donkey that carried Jesus. As we “carry Jesus” to the world, we may receive the same welcome that Jesus received on Palm Sunday, but we may also meet the same opposition, crosses, and trials later. Like the donkey, we are called upon to carry Christ to a world that does not know Him. Hence, let us become transparent Christians during this Holy Week, enabling others to see in us Jesus’ universal love, unconditional forgiveness, and sacrificial service.
////////////////////////////////////// © 2023, Fr. Anthony Kadavil - https://frtonyshomilies.com
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