against this man.”

When Pilate heard this, he asked if the man was a Galilean. Finding the accused to come
under Herod’s jurisdiction, Pilate sent Jesus over to Herod who happened to be in Jerusalem
at that time.

Herod was delighted to have Jesus before him now; for a long time he had wanted to see him
because of the reports about him, and he was hoping to see Jesus work some miracle. He
piled up question upon question, but got no reply from Jesus. All the while the chief priests and
the scribes remained standing there, vehemently pressing their accusations. Finally, Herod
ridiculed him and with his guards mocked him. And when he had put a rich cloak on him, he
sent him back to Pilate. Pilate and Herod who were enemies before, became friends from that
day.

Pilate then called together the chief priests and the elders before all the people, and said to
them, “You have brought this man before me and accused him of subversion. In your
presence I have examined him and found no basis for your charges. And neither has Herod,
for he sent him back to me. It is quite clear that this man has done nothing that deserves a
death sentence. I will therefore have him scourged and then release him.”

Howling as one man, they protested: “No! Away with this man! Release Barabbas instead.”
This man had been thrown into prison for an uprising in the city and for murder. Since Pilate
wanted to release Jesus, he appealed to the crowd once more, but they shouted back,
“To the cross with him! To the cross!” A third time Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has
he done? Since no crime deserving death has been proved, I shall have him scourged and
let him go.”

But they went on shouting and demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their
shouts grew louder. So Pilate decided to pass the sentence they demanded.
He released the man they asked for, the one who was in prison for rebellion
and murder, and he delivered Jesus in accordance with their wishes.

READ: Today’s readings begin with one of Isaiah’s songs of the suffering servant,
acclaiming God’s protection of his holy one. The great hymn in Paul’s Letter to
the Philippians sings of Christ’s exaltation by the Father, precisely because of his
humility. The readings culminate with the story of Jesus’ last days, his last supper
with his friends, his trial, suffering, and death on the cross.

REFLECT: On this Palm Sunday let us reflect on how Christ poured himself out
on our behalf. He poured out the acclaim of the crowd as their cries of “Hosanna”
turn into shouts of “Crucify him!” He poured out his divine power, becoming
human and accepting a shameful death. In Gethsemane he poured out his sweat,
his tears, and his own will, embracing his Father’s will and the cup that he would
have to drink. At the table with his friends and again upon the cross, he poured
out his body and his blood that we might have eternal life.
Baptized into Christ and strengthened by the Eucharist, we are called to pour out
our lives in service of our brothers and sisters.

PRAY: Father, not my will but yours be done.

ACT: Make a sacrificial gift of time or treasure to people in need.

© Copyright Bible Diary 2023