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"Welcome to our daily encounter with the Word of God! Today we are invited to contemplate deeply the mystery of Christ's redemptive suffering and God's infinite love for humanity. Today's readings lead us to reflect on the faithfulness of the Servant of the Lord, the humility of Christ who gives himself for us, and the fulfillment of the plan of salvation in the sacrifice of Jesus. In our reflection, we will meditate on the First Reading from the prophet Isaiah (50:4-7), the Second Reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians (2:6-11), and the Gospel of Matthew (27:11-54), which present us with the path of obedience, surrender, and glorification of the Son of God.
First Reading (Isaiah 50:4-7):
The prophet Isaiah presents the figure of the Servant of the Lord, the one who attentively listens to the voice of God and remains faithful even in the face of suffering and persecution. The Servant does not back down in the face of affronts, humiliations, and aggressions, for he fully trusts that the Lord is by his side. This passage reveals a profound trust in God even in the most difficult trials. It also anticipates the suffering of Christ, who freely accepts pain and rejection to fulfill the Father's will and bring salvation to the world.
Second Reading (Philippians 2:6-11):
In this beautiful and profound passage, Saint Paul presents us with the so-called ""Christological hymn,"" which describes the humility and exaltation of Jesus Christ. Although being of divine nature, Christ did not cling to his equality with God, but emptied himself, assuming human nature and becoming obedient unto death—even death on a cross. Because of this perfect obedience, God exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name. This reading teaches us that the true path to glory passes through humility, surrender, and faithfulness to God.
Gospel (Matthew 27:11-54):
In today's Gospel we contemplate the passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew. Before Pilate, Jesus remains firm and silent in the face of unjust accusations. He is condemned, scourged, crowned with thorns, and led to Calvary, where he gives his life on the cross. Even amidst extreme suffering, Jesus remains faithful to the mission he received from the Father. At the moment of his death, the earth trembles, the veil of the temple is torn, and the centurion recognizes: “Truly, this was the Son of God.” This account reminds us of the price of our redemption and invites us to contemplate the sacrificial love of Christ.
Today's readings call us to follow the example of Jesus, who faced suffering with courage, humility, and total trust in the Father. As we contemplate his passion, we are invited to renew our faith, recognize the love that is given for us, and learn that true victory is born from faithfulness to God, even in trials.
📖 Readings of the Day:
First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-7
Second Reading: Philippians 2:6-11
Gospel: Matthew 27:11-54
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0:00
Third reading from the book of Isaiah.
0:02
The Lord God has given me a well-trained
0:04
tongue that I might know how to speak to
0:06
the weary a word that will rouse them.
0:09
Morning after morning he opens my ear
0:11
that I may hear. And I have not
0:13
rebelled, have not turned back. I gave
0:16
my back to those who beat me, my cheeks
0:18
to those who plucked my beard. My face I
0:21
did not shield from buffets and
0:23
spitting. The Lord God is my help.
0:26
Therefore I am not disgraced. I have set
0:28
my face like flint, knowing that I shall
0:30
not be put to shame. The word of the
0:33
Lord. Thanks be to God.
0:43
Do a reading from the letter to the
0:45
Philippians. Christ Jesus, though he was
0:47
in the form of God, did not regard
0:49
equality with God something to be
0:51
grasped. Rather, he emptied himself,
0:55
taking the form of a slave, coming in
0:57
human likeness, and found human in
0:59
appearance. He humbled himself, becoming
1:01
obedient to the point of death, even
1:03
death on a cross. Because of this, God
1:07
greatly exalted him and bestowed on him
1:09
the name which is above every name, that
1:11
at the name of Jesus, every knee should
1:13
bend of those in heaven and on earth and
1:16
under the earth, and every tongue
1:18
confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the
1:20
glory of God the Father. The word of the
1:23
Lord. Thanks be to God.
1:33
A reading from the Holy Gospel according
1:35
to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord. Jesus
1:38
stood before the governor Ponteus Pilate
1:41
who questioned him, "Are you the king of
1:43
the Jews?" Jesus said, "You say so." And
1:47
when he was accused by the chief priests
1:49
and elders, he made no answer. Then
1:51
Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how
1:54
many things they are testifying against
1:55
you?" But he did not answer him one
1:58
word, so that the governor was greatly
2:00
amazed. Now on the occasion of the
2:02
feast, the governor was accustomed to
2:04
release to the crowd one prisoner whom
2:06
they wished. And at that time they had a
2:09
notorious prisoner called Barabus. So
2:11
when they had assembled, Pilate said to
2:14
them, "Which one do you want me to
2:16
release to you, Barabus, or Jesus called
2:18
Christ?" For he knew that it was out of
2:21
envy that they had handed him over.
2:23
While he was still seated on the bench,
2:25
his wife sent him a message. Have
2:28
nothing to do with that righteous man. I
2:30
suffered much in a dream today because
2:32
of him. The chief priests and the elders
2:35
persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabus,
2:37
but to destroy Jesus. The governor said
2:40
to them in reply, "Which of the two do
2:43
you want me to release to you?" They
2:45
answered, "Barabus." Pilate said to
2:47
them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus
2:50
called Christ?" They all said, "Let him
2:52
be crucified." But he said, "Why? What
2:55
evil has he done?" They only shouted the
2:58
louder, "Let him be crucified." When
3:00
Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at
3:02
all, but that a riot was breaking out
3:04
instead, he took water and washed his
3:07
hands in the sight of the crowd, saying,
3:10
"I'm innocent of this man's blood. Look
3:12
to it [music] yourselves." And the whole
3:14
people said in reply, "His blood be upon
3:17
us and upon our children." Then he
3:19
released Barabus to them. But after he
3:21
had Jesus scourged, he handed him over
3:23
to be crucified.
3:25
Then the soldiers of the governor took
3:27
Jesus inside the ptorium and gathered
3:30
the whole cohort around him. They
3:32
stripped off his clothes and threw a
3:33
scarlet military cloak about him.
3:36
Weaving a crown out of thorns, they
3:38
placed it on his head and a reed in his
3:40
right hand. And kneeling before him,
3:42
they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of
3:44
the Jews." They spat upon him and took
3:47
the reed and kept striking him on the
3:49
head. And when they had mocked him, they
3:51
stripped him of the cloak, dressed him
3:52
in his own clothes, and led him off to
3:54
crucify him. As they were going out,
3:57
they met a Sirenian named Simon. This
4:00
man they pressed into service to carry
4:02
his cross. And when they came to a place
4:05
called Goltha, which means place of the
4:07
skull, they gave Jesus wine to drink,
4:10
mixed with Gaul. But when he had tasted
4:13
it, he refused to drink. After they had
4:17
crucified him, they divided his garments
4:19
by casting lots. Then they sat down and
4:22
kept watch over him there. And they
4:24
placed over his head the written charge
4:26
against him. This is Jesus, the king of
4:29
the Jews. Two revolutionaries were
4:31
crucified with him, one on his right and
4:33
the other on his left. Those passing by
4:36
reviled him, shaking their heads and
4:38
saying, "You who would destroy the
4:41
temple and rebuild it in 3 days. Save
4:43
yourself if you are the son of God and
4:45
come down from the cross." Likewise, the
4:48
chief priests with the scribes and
4:50
elders mocked him and said, "He saved
4:52
others. He cannot save himself. So, he
4:55
is the king of Israel. Let him come down
4:57
from the cross now, and we will believe
4:59
in him." He trusted in God. Let him
5:02
deliver him now if he wants him. for he
5:05
said, "I am the son of God." The
5:08
revolutionaries who were crucified with
5:10
him also kept abusing him in the same
5:12
way. From noon onward, darkness came
5:15
over the whole land until 3:00 in the
5:17
afternoon. And about 3:00, Jesus cried
5:21
out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, Layma
5:24
Sabakthani," which means, "My God, my
5:27
God, why have you forsaken me?" Some of
5:30
the bystanders who heard it said, "This
5:32
one is calling for Elijah." Immediately
5:34
one of them ran to get a sponge. He
5:36
soaked it in wine and putting it on a
5:38
reed gave it to him to drink. But the
5:41
rest said, "Wait, let us see if Elijah
5:43
comes to save him." [music] But Jesus
5:45
cried out again in a loud voice and gave
5:47
up his spirit. Here all kneel and paws
5:50
for a short time. And behold, the veil
5:53
of the sanctuary was torn in two from
5:55
top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks
5:58
were split, tombs were opened, and the
6:00
bodies of many saints who had fallen
6:02
asleep were raised, and coming forth
6:05
from their tombs after his resurrection,
6:07
they entered the holy city and appeared
6:09
to many. The centurion and the men with
6:11
him who were keeping watch over Jesus,
6:14
feared greatly when they saw the
6:15
earthquake and all that was happening.
6:17
And they said, "Truly, this was the Son
6:19
of God." The Gospel of the Lord. Praise
6:23
to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
6:33
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
6:35
there is a silence that speaks louder
6:37
than a thousand words. There is a
6:39
surrender that is the greatest victory.
6:41
There is a weakness that demonstrates
6:43
supreme power. In the readings of this
6:46
solemn day, we are led to the heart of
6:49
the Christian mystery, the passion of
6:51
our Lord Jesus Christ, where all
6:53
paradoxes meet, where heaven and earth
6:56
touch through the cross. The prophet
6:58
Isaiah presents us centuries before
7:00
Christ with a disturbing and prophetic
7:02
image. I offered my back to those who
7:05
struck me and my cheeks to those who
7:07
plucked out my beard. I did not hide my
7:10
face from insults and spitting. What a
7:12
brutal description of suffering. But
7:15
note something fundamental. This is not
7:17
suffering imposed against the prophet's
7:19
will. He offered his back. He did not
7:21
hide his face. There is a deliberate
7:24
choice here, a conscious consent to
7:26
suffering. This image prepares us to
7:29
understand what we will see in the
7:30
gospel. Jesus was not a passive victim
7:33
of circumstances dragged against his
7:35
will to Calvary. He chose this path. He
7:38
freely offered himself. Like the
7:41
suffering servant of Isaiah, he made his
7:43
face like flint and went forward knowing
7:46
that he would not be put to shame. But
7:48
why this path of suffering? Why would
7:51
God choose to reveal his love through
7:53
the cross? Paul gives us the answer in
7:55
the letter to the Philippians in what is
7:58
considered one of the oldest and most
7:59
profound Christian hymns. Jesus Christ
8:03
emptied himself taking the form of a
8:05
servant. Reflect on this word emptied
8:08
himself. In the original Greek, it is
8:12
kinosis, a total complete emptying.
8:16
Christ who had everything, glory, power,
8:18
majesty, chose to have nothing. He who
8:21
created the galaxies with a word, who
8:23
sustains the universe with the breath of
8:25
his mouth, chose the vulnerability of a
8:27
baby in a manger and the powerlessness
8:29
of a condemned man on a cross. This is
8:32
God's way. Not the way of power that
8:34
dominates and subjugates, but the power
8:36
that gives itself and serves. Not the
8:39
force that destroys enemies, but the
8:41
love that gives itself for them. How
8:44
this contrast with the values of the
8:46
world. How this challenges our
8:48
understanding of success, power, and
8:50
victory. And then we come to the Gospel
8:52
of Matthew where we witness this divine
8:55
self-mping unfolding in painful detail.
8:58
Jesus stands before Pilate, the
9:00
representative of the greatest empire
9:02
the world has ever known. Pilate holds
9:04
all political and military power. Jesus
9:07
is imprisoned, scourged, humiliated.
9:10
But who truly holds the power in this
9:12
scene? Are you the king of the Jews?
9:14
Pilate asks. You say so, Jesus replies.
9:18
And after that, a profound silence.
9:21
Are you not going to answer? Pilate
9:23
insists. Do you see how many things they
9:25
accuse you of? But Jesus remains silent.
9:29
This silence of Jesus is not the
9:30
muteness of fear or defeat. It is the
9:33
silence of divine sovereignty. It is the
9:37
silence of one who does not need to
9:38
defend himself because he knows a deeper
9:41
truth. It is the fulfillment of Isaiah's
9:44
words. The Lord God helps me. Therefore,
9:47
I am not confounded.
9:49
Pilate is astonished by this silence. He
9:52
who is accustomed to making people speak
9:54
through threats and torture finds
9:56
himself before someone whom his power
9:58
cannot truly touch. Pilate can condemn
10:01
Jesus' body. But he cannot reach his
10:04
soul, his mission, his divine purpose.
10:08
And then comes the choice, Barabus or
10:10
Jesus, a violent criminal or the prince
10:13
of peace. The crowd incited by the
10:15
religious leaders chooses Barabbus. What
10:18
shall I do then with Jesus who is called
10:21
Christ? asks Pilate. Crucify him, they
10:24
shout. What a tragedy, what bitter
10:26
irony. The people are choosing violence
10:28
over peace, darkness over light, death
10:31
over life. But even in this terrible
10:34
choice, God's plan is unfolding.
10:37
Because it is precisely through this
10:39
rejection, through this crucifixion that
10:41
salvation will come. Pilate tries to
10:44
absolve himself of responsibility,
10:46
publicly washing his hands. I am
10:49
innocent of the blood of this righteous
10:51
man. He declares, "But there is no way
10:54
to wash away guilt when we have the
10:56
power to do what is right and choose not
10:58
to. Neutrality in the face of injustice
11:00
is in itself a form of complicity."
11:04
And here is a question we must ask
11:06
ourselves. How many times in our lives
11:08
do we wash our hands of injustice? How
11:11
many times do we see suffering,
11:12
oppression, evil, and choose not to get
11:15
involved, not to take a stand, not to
11:18
risk our reputation or comfort. Jesus
11:21
did not wash his hands. He stretched
11:22
them out on the cross. He took
11:24
responsibility not for his own sins, for
11:26
he had none, but for ours. He carried
11:30
the weight of all the evil, all the
11:31
pain, all the separation from God that
11:34
humanity has ever experienced or will
11:36
ever experience. The soldiers mock him,
11:39
placing a crown of thorns on his head
11:41
and a robe over his shoulders. "Hail,
11:44
King of the Jews!" they shout
11:46
sarcastically, striking him and spitting
11:48
on him. They don't realize that they are
11:50
ironically speaking the truth. This
11:54
bloodied and humiliated man is indeed a
11:56
king, but of a kingdom they cannot
11:58
comprehend. Because the kingdom of
12:00
Christ is not established through
12:02
military force or political domination.
12:04
It is established through sacrificial
12:07
love, abundant grace, and undeserved
12:10
forgiveness. Every blow Jesus suffers,
12:13
every drop of blood he sheds is a
12:15
demonstration of this incomprehensible
12:17
love. Simon ofSirene is forced to carry
12:21
Jesus's cross. This chance encounter
12:24
becomes a moment of profound
12:26
significance. Simon coming from the
12:28
countryside unknowingly becomes a model
12:31
of disciplehip because Jesus calls us
12:34
all to take up our cross and follow him.
12:38
Simon literally does this. Sometimes
12:41
carrying the cross is not a choice we
12:43
make deliberately. Sometimes like Simon,
12:46
we are compelled by life's
12:47
circumstances.
12:49
Illness we didn't ask for, loss we
12:51
didn't expect, [music] pain we don't
12:53
deserve. But even in these moments when
12:55
we carry our cross alongside Christ, a
12:58
mysterious grace is at work. A
13:00
transformation is taking place. And then
13:03
we arrive at Golgtha, the place of the
13:06
skull. There Jesus is crucified between
13:09
two thieves. Even in his death, he is
13:12
among the marginalized, the rejected,
13:14
the condemned. Passers by mock, "If you
13:17
are the son of God, come down from the
13:19
cross." The priests and scribes scoff.
13:22
He saved others, but he can't save
13:23
himself. What cruel mockery, but also
13:27
what a profoundly true statement, though
13:30
they didn't realize it. Jesus cannot
13:32
save himself precisely because he chose
13:34
to save us. He doesn't come down from
13:37
the cross because true love doesn't give
13:39
up, doesn't flee, doesn't abandon. Love
13:43
remains even unto death. Eli, Eli, lay
13:47
Sabakthani, my God, my God, why have you
13:49
forsaken me? Jesus cry echoes through
13:52
the centuries piercing our hearts. This
13:55
is the deepest moment of divine
13:56
self-mping. The son experiences
13:59
separation from the father bearing upon
14:02
himself the weight of all the sins that
14:04
separate us from God. But note that even
14:06
in this moment of extreme anguish, Jesus
14:09
still cries out, "My God." The
14:12
relationship is not broken, although it
14:14
seems to be. Trust remains [music] even
14:18
though it is tested to the limit. This
14:20
is the faith that saves us. Not the
14:22
absence of doubt or pain, but
14:24
perseverance through them. And then with
14:27
a loud cry, Jesus gives up his spirit.
14:30
[music] The veil of the temple is torn
14:32
in two from top to bottom. This is no
14:35
small detail. The veil separated the
14:37
holy of holies where the presence of God
14:40
dwelt from the rest of the temple. Only
14:42
the high priest could enter there and
14:44
only once a year. But now the veil is
14:47
torn. Access to God is open. No longer
14:50
through animal sacrifices or elaborate
14:52
rituals, but through Jesus Christ, the
14:55
only mediator between God and humanity.
14:58
The barrier is removed. The way is
15:01
clear. The earth trembles. The rocks
15:03
split. The tombs open. All of creation
15:07
shudders at what has just happened. The
15:09
creator died for his creatures. The
15:11
innocent one was condemned so that the
15:14
guilty could be freed. The son of God
15:16
became a curse so that we could become
15:19
children of God. The Roman centurion
15:22
witnessed to all this makes a startling
15:24
confession. Truly, [music] this was the
15:27
son of God, a gentile, a soldier of the
15:31
empire that crucified Jesus recognizes
15:34
what the religious leaders refuse to
15:35
see. The light shines in the darkness,
15:38
and even those who should be furthest
15:40
away are drawn to it. My dear brothers
15:43
and sisters, what do we do with this
15:45
story? How do we respond to this extreme
15:47
love to this complete sacrifice? First,
15:50
we must recognize that this is not just
15:52
an old story about a good man who died
15:55
unjustly. This is the story of our
15:57
salvation. Jesus died for you, for me,
16:00
for every person who has ever lived or
16:02
will ever live. Those nails that
16:04
fastened him to the cross were placed
16:05
there for our sins, for my pride, for my
16:08
greed, for my indifference to the
16:10
suffering of others.
16:12
Second, we are called to embrace the
16:14
path of self-mping that Paul describes
16:18
in a world that tells us to assert
16:20
ourselves, to promote ourselves, to
16:21
exalt ourselves. Jesus shows us a
16:24
different path. The path of humble
16:26
service, of sacrificial love, of total
16:29
surrender to God and neighbor. This does
16:32
not mean that we should seek suffering
16:33
for its own sake or remain in abusive
16:36
situations. But it means that we are
16:38
willing to put the needs of others above
16:40
our own conveniences to forgive even
16:43
when we have been deeply hurt. To love
16:46
even when it is not reciprocated.
16:48
Third, we must learn to remain in
16:50
trusting silence in the face of life's
16:53
accusations and injustices. Like Jesus
16:56
before Pilate, we don't always need to
16:58
defend or justify ourselves. There is
17:01
spiritual strength in knowing who we are
17:02
in Christ and standing firm in that
17:05
identity regardless of what others say
17:07
or do. Fourth, we are challenged to take
17:11
up our cross daily and follow Jesus.
17:15
This can mean different things for each
17:16
of us. For some, it may be caring for a
17:19
sick family member with patience and
17:21
love. For others, it may be remaining
17:24
faithful in a difficult marriage. For
17:27
still others, it may be defending
17:29
justice even when it costs us
17:30
friendships or opportunities.
17:33
Fifth, we must live with the awareness
17:35
that the veil has been torn. We have
17:38
direct access to God through Jesus
17:40
Christ. We don't need human
17:42
intermediaries to approach the father.
17:44
We can come confidently to the throne of
17:46
grace bringing our sorrows, our doubts,
17:49
our joys, our thanksgivings.
17:52
And finally, we must proclaim like the
17:53
Roman centurion, truly this is the son
17:56
of God. Our entire lives should be a
17:59
testimony to this truth, not just with
18:01
words, but through our actions, our
18:03
choices, our relationships, our
18:06
compassion for the marginalized, our
18:08
fight for justice, our love for our
18:09
enemies. The cross is not the end of the
18:12
story. We know that the resurrection is
18:14
coming. But today at this moment we
18:17
stand at the foot of the cross
18:19
contemplating the love that went so far
18:21
for us. Let this love transform you. Let
18:24
this sacrifice motivate you. Let this
18:27
grace renew you. Paul tells us that
18:30
because of his self-mping and obedience
18:32
unto death. God highly exalted him and
18:35
bestowed on him the name that is above
18:36
every name. The way down is the way up.
18:40
Death leads to life. The cross leads to
18:43
the crown. May we follow this same path
18:46
trusting that he who called us is
18:48
faithful. May we empty ourselves of our
18:51
selfishness and be filled with the love
18:52
of Christ. May we turn our backs on
18:55
life's difficulties knowing that we will
18:57
not be confounded. May we extend our
19:00
hands in love even when it costs us. And
19:02
may we at the end of our journey also
19:04
hear every tongue confess and every knee
19:06
bow before Jesus Christ the Lord to the
19:10
glory of God the Father. May the grace
19:12
of our Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us
19:15
and gave himself for us, be with you all
19:17
now and forever. Amen.
19:21
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in
19:24
battle. Be our protection against the
19:26
wickedness and snares of the devil. May
19:29
God rebuke him, we humbly pray. And do
19:32
thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by
19:35
the power of God, cast into hell Satan
19:39
and all the evil spirits who prowl
19:41
throughout the world seeking the ruin of
19:43
souls. Amen.