Reading I

Is 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.

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24
(2a)  My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
All who see me scoff at me;
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.”
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Indeed, many dogs surround me,
a pack of evildoers closes in upon me;
They have pierced my hands and my feet;
I can count all my bones.
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
They divide my garments among them,
and for my vesture they cast lots.
But you, O LORD, be not far from me;
O my help, hasten to aid me.
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
I will proclaim your name to my brethren;
in the midst of the assembly I will praise you:
“You who fear the LORD, praise him;
all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him;
   revere him, all you descendants of Israel!”
My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Gospel
Lk 22:14—23:56 or 23:1-49
When the hour came,
Jesus took his place at table with the apostles.
He said to them,
“I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer,
for, I tell you, I shall not eat it again
until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said,
“Take this and share it among yourselves;
for I tell you that from this time on
I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine
until the kingdom of God comes.”
Then he took the bread, said the blessing,
broke it, and gave it to them, saying,
“This is my body, which will be given for you;
do this in memory of me.”
And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
which will be shed for you.

“And yet behold, the hand of the one who is to betray me
is with me on the table;
for the Son of Man indeed goes as it has been determined;
but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed.”
And they began to debate among themselves
who among them would do such a deed.

Then an argument broke out among them
about which of them should be regarded as the greatest.
He said to them,
“The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them
and those in authority over them are addressed as ‘Benefactors’;
but among you it shall not be so.
Rather, let the greatest among you be as the youngest,
and the leader as the servant.
For who is greater:
the one seated at table or the one who serves?
Is it not the one seated at table?
I am among you as the one who serves.
It is you who have stood by me in my trials;
and I confer a kingdom on you,
just as my Father has conferred one on me,
that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom;
and you will sit on thrones
judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

“Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded
to sift all of you like wheat,
but I have prayed that your own faith may not fail;
and once you have turned back,
you must strengthen your brothers.”
He said to him,
“Lord, I am prepared to go to prison and to die with you.”
But he replied,
“I tell you, Peter, before the cock crows this day,
you will deny three times that you know me.”

He said to them,
“When I sent you forth without a money bag or a sack or sandals,
were you in need of anything?”
“No, nothing, “ they replied.
He said to them,
“But now one who has a money bag should take it,
and likewise a sack,
and one who does not have a sword
should sell his cloak and buy one.
For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in me,
namely, He was counted among the wicked;
and indeed what is written about me is coming to fulfillment.”
Then they said,
“Lord, look, there are two swords here.”
But he replied, “It is enough!”

Then going out, he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives,
and the disciples followed him.
When he arrived at the place he said to them,
“Pray that you may not undergo the test.”
After withdrawing about a stone’s throw from them and kneeling,
he prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing,
take this cup away from me;
still, not my will but yours be done.”
And to strengthen him an angel from heaven appeared to him.
He was in such agony and he prayed so fervently
that his sweat became like drops of blood
falling on the ground.
When he rose from prayer and returned to his disciples,
he found them sleeping from grief.
He said to them, “Why are you sleeping?
Get up and pray that you may not undergo the test.”

While he was still speaking, a crowd approached
and in front was one of the Twelve, a man named Judas.
He went up to Jesus to kiss him.
Jesus said to him,
“Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
His disciples realized what was about to happen, and they asked,
“Lord, shall we strike with a sword?”
And one of them struck the high priest’s servant
and cut off his right ear.
But Jesus said in reply,
“Stop, no more of this!”
Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him.
And Jesus said to the chief priests and temple guards
and elders who had come for him,
“Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?
Day after day I was with you in the temple area,
and you did not seize me;
but this is your hour, the time for the power of darkness.”

After arresting him they led him away
and took him into the house of the high priest;
Peter was following at a distance.
They lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it,
and Peter sat down with them.
When a maid saw him seated in the light,
she looked intently at him and said,
“This man too was with him.”
But he denied it saying,
“Woman, I do not know him.”
A short while later someone else saw him and said,
“You too are one of them”;
but Peter answered, “My friend, I am not.”
About an hour later, still another insisted,
“Assuredly, this man too was with him,
for he also is a Galilean.”
But Peter said,
“My friend, I do not know what you are talking about.”
Just as he was saying this, the cock crowed,
and the Lord turned and looked at Peter;
and Peter remembered the word of the Lord,
how he had said to him,
“Before the cock crows today, you will deny me three times.”
He went out and began to weep bitterly.
The men who held Jesus in custody were ridiculing and beating him.
They blindfolded him and questioned him, saying,
“Prophesy!  Who is it that struck you?”
And they reviled him in saying many other things against him.

When day came the council of elders of the people met,
both chief priests and scribes,
and they brought him before their Sanhedrin.
They said, “If you are the Christ, tell us, “
but he replied to them, “If I tell you, you will not believe,
and if I question, you will not respond.
But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated
at the right hand of the power of God.”
They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”
He replied to them, “You say that I am.”
Then they said, “What further need have we for testimony?
We have heard it from his own mouth.”

Then the whole assembly of them arose and brought him before Pilate.
They brought charges against him, saying,
“We found this man misleading our people;
he opposes the payment of taxes to Caesar
and maintains that he is the Christ, a king.”
Pilate asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
He said to him in reply, “You say so.”
Pilate then addressed the chief priests and the crowds,
“I find this man not guilty.”
But they were adamant and said,
“He is inciting the people with his teaching throughout all Judea,
from Galilee where he began even to here.”

On hearing this Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean;
and upon learning that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction,
he sent him to Herod who was in Jerusalem at that time.
Herod was very glad to see Jesus;
he had been wanting to see him for a long time,
for he had heard about him
and had been hoping to see him perform some sign.
He questioned him at length,
but he gave him no answer.
The chief priests and scribes, meanwhile,
stood by accusing him harshly.
Herod and his soldiers treated him contemptuously and mocked him,
and after clothing him in resplendent garb,
he sent him back to Pilate.
Herod and Pilate became friends that very day,
even though they had been enemies formerly.
Pilate then summoned the chief priests, the rulers, and the people
and said to them, “You brought this man to me
and accused him of inciting the people to revolt.
I have conducted my investigation in your presence
and have not found this man guilty
of the charges you have brought against him,
nor did Herod, for he sent him back to us.
So no capital crime has been committed by him.
Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.”

But all together they shouted out,
“Away with this man!
Release Barabbas to us.”
— Now Barabbas had been imprisoned for a rebellion
that had taken place in the city and for murder. —
Again Pilate addressed them, still wishing to release Jesus,
but they continued their shouting,
“Crucify him!  Crucify him!”
Pilate addressed them a third time,
“What evil has this man done?
I found him guilty of no capital crime.
Therefore I shall have him flogged and then release him.”
With loud shouts, however,
they persisted in calling for his crucifixion,
and their voices prevailed.
The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted.
So he released the man who had been imprisoned
for rebellion and murder, for whom they asked,
and he handed Jesus over to them to deal with as they wished.

As they led him away
they took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian,
who was coming in from the country;
and after laying the cross on him,
they made him carry it behind Jesus.
A large crowd of people followed Jesus,
including many women who mourned and lamented him.
Jesus turned to them and said,
“Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me;
weep instead for yourselves and for your children
for indeed, the days are coming when people will say,
‘Blessed are the barren,
the wombs that never bore
and the breasts that never nursed.’
At that time people will say to the mountains,
‘Fall upon us!’
and to the hills, ‘Cover us!’
for if these things are done when the wood is green
what will happen when it is dry?”
Now two others, both criminals,
were led away with him to be executed.

When they came to the place called the Skull,
they crucified him and the criminals there,
one on his right, the other on his left.
Then Jesus said,
“Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
They divided his garments by casting lots.
The people stood by and watched;
the rulers, meanwhile, sneered at him and said,
“He saved others, let him save himself
if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.”
Even the soldiers jeered at him.
As they approached to offer him wine they called out,
“If you are King of the Jews, save yourself.”
Above him there was an inscription that read,
“This is the King of the Jews.”

Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying,
“Are you not the Christ?
Save yourself and us.”
The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply,
“Have you no fear of God,
for you are subject to the same condemnation?
And indeed, we have been condemned justly,
for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes,
but this man has done nothing criminal.”
Then he said,
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
He replied to him,
“Amen, I say to you,
today you will be with me in Paradise.”

It was now about noon and darkness came over the whole land
until three in the afternoon
because of an eclipse of the sun.
Then the veil of the temple was torn down the middle.
Jesus cried out in a loud voice,
“Father, into your hands I commend my spirit”;
and when he had said this he breathed his last.

(Here all kneel and pause for a short time.)

The centurion who witnessed what had happened glorified God and said,
“This man was innocent beyond doubt.”
When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened,
they returned home beating their breasts;
but all his acquaintances stood at a distance,
including the women who had followed him from Galilee
and saw these events.
Now there was a virtuous and righteous man named Joseph who,
though he was a member of the council,
had not consented to their plan of action.
He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea
and was awaiting the kingdom of God.
He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
After he had taken the body down,
he wrapped it in a linen cloth
and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb
in which no one had yet been buried.
It was the day of preparation,
and the sabbath was about to begin.
The women who had come from Galilee with him followed behind,
and when they had seen the tomb
and the way in which his body was laid in it,
they returned and prepared spices and perfumed oils.
Then they rested on the sabbath according to the commandment.

Catholic Fundamentalism Interpretation:

The Programmer has downloaded within me the ability to describe His Program.  He has given me the ability to restore human programs.  He updates my files every morning,

and I accept those updates without complaining or turning away.

I let those who want to beat and insult me do so.  I don't care.  Their puny programs are so useless that they don't understand how pitiful they are.

The Programmer, Himself, keeps my human program attuned with His. 

If I do His will, nothing that the lesser human programs can do will erase or alter what He has me do.

Programmer, why are You letting my own program be erased by others?

Others make fun of me.

They say:  "He relied on The Programmer, let The Programmer save him, if He loves him."

Programmer, why are You letting my own program be erased by others?  Those who have downloaded the programs of vicious animals are around me, those who embrace errors are coming for me.  They have pierced my hands and my feet.  (I have been scourged so that my skin and muscles are torn away, my bones are visible). 

Programmer, why are You letting my own program be erased by others?  You have made Your prior downloads come true, they divide my garments among them and cast lots for the.  But, You are not far.  Please, provide me Programming Assistance!

Program, why are you letting my own program be erased by others?  I will tell others how great You are.  If you are smart enough to fear the Programmer, praise and worship Him, if you are His.

Programmer, why are you letting my own program be erased by others?

Jesus Christ is the fullness of creation, but did not regard being The Programmer's Program something to be held on to.  Instead, He erased the power from His program, and came to earth in the form of The Programmer's slave.

He totally obeyed The Programmer's Program, to the point that He died on the cross.

Because of His obedience, The Programmer raised The Program, and gave Him the name above every other name, Jesus.

At that name, everyone will kneel, from Programming HQ to the Creation Program to the place where those who will not obey The Programmer spend eternity.

Every person will confess that Jesus Christ is the Living Program, to the glory of His Father, The Loving Programmer.

Before it was time to give Himself as a living sacrifice, Jesus ate dinner with His disciples, saying

"I've been eager for this last Passover .  I won't eat it again until The Programmer's Program has finished running." 

Then, He took a cup, gave thanks, and said, "Take this and share it.  It is My Blood, and you now have, (and may pass on, the power to reprogram wine so that it becomes My Blood).  This is my last drink of the fruit of the vine(yard)."

Then, He took the bread, gave thanks, and gave pieces of it to them, saying, "Now you have the power to make wheat become My Body (and you may pass on that power to reprogram bread into My body to those who will follow)."

Though this ability that you (and all priests to come) have now been given to reprogram My being with you from wine and wheat, my betrayer is here, now.

(Are we to assume that His Church will always have betrayers, modernists, etc.?  Does their presence prove Her validity)  "Too bad for he who betrays Me." (in every age, in every place, in every way, Judases will be punished.)

Then, they asked "Who would do such a thing?"  Then, they started arguing about which of them would be the greatest (their leader, after He died?).

He said,

"The kings of those who live among the human programs all want to be important, and say they need power because they are 'helping'.  Among those who live in The Programmer's Kingdom, things are reversed.  Those who are greatest serve, and don't demand being served. 

"Who is greater, the served or the servant?  In the world, the served are greater, but I have come among you as a servant. 

Because you have served me, the servant, I will give you a kingdom, just as My Father gave one to Me, so that you may eat and drink with Me in My Kingdom;

and you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve Tribes of Israel.  (Catholic Fundamentalists consider that many peoples were descended from the Ten Northern Tribes, others, of similar capacity, embraced their beliefs, and are also children of God.)

"Simon, the living error, the apostate angel, has demanded that every one of you (and all believers who follow) be sifted like wheat, but I have asked The Programmer to make your download so permanent that it can't be erased.  Once you have turned back to me (after the coming three crows of the rooster?), you must strengthen your brothers (the Popes, bishops, priests, and people of the whole Church until the program is completed.)

Peter said, "I'm ready to be imprisoned and die with You."  Jesus answered, "Peter, before the rooster crows in the morning, you'll deny three times that you know me."

He said, "When I sent you forth without a money bag, sack, or sandals, didn't The Programmer provide you with every thing you needed?"

"Yes.", they said.  He went on, "Now, you will need money and supplies.  If you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.", because I am telling you, the fulfillment of The Program can only come about through me.

I must be counted among the wicked (and so be punished), and what The Programmed downloaded to the prophets is coming true."

The apostles said, "Lord, we have two swords with us."  He answered, "That's enough."  (May we infer than not everyone must be armed and fight, but one sixth of us must be able to do so?)

Then, as usual, He went to the Mount of Olives, followed by His disciples.  When they arrived, He said, "Pray that you don't have to be tested.".  He went a stone's throw away, knelt, and prayed:  "Loving Programmer of All, if You are willing, please provide the Programming ReWrite that will let Me avoid this awful death, but it is Your Will, not Mine, that must be done."

An angel (A really high-level programming assistant!) was sent to provide Programming Assistance to give Him strength. (We may assume The Programmer will do the same for us when tested.)  He was in such a state that He sweated blood (all The Creation Program was at stake!), that fell on the ground (making it the holiest place on earth).  When He got up after praying, he returned to His disciples, who were sleeping from grief.  He asked, "Why are you sleeping?  Get up and pray that you don't have to take the same test (that I do),"  While He was speaking, a crowd approached, led by Judas.

He went up to Jesus, to kiss Him, and Jesus said, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man (the Savior coming as programmed) with a kiss?"

The disciples understood what was going to happen, and asked, "Lord, shall we use our swords to defend you?"  (Not saying "Yes!  Strike now, to be assisted by the Heavenly Host, and you will have certain victory!" was, perhaps, the greatest temptation that He resisted.)

One of them used his sword to cut off the high priest's servant's ear, but Jesus said, "Stop, no more resistance!"  Then, He touched the servant's ear and reprogrammed it back in place. (every time he heard anything after that, did he realize that he heard through the power of Christ?)   Jesus said to the chief priests and temple guards and elders who'd come for Him, "Do you think I'm a robber, to be captured with swords and clubs?  Day after day, I was with you around the Temple, and you didn't capture me.  But, this is the hour for which The Program was brought into being.  This is the time for the virus to corrupt the program."

After the arrest, they led Him to the house of the high priest.  Peter followed, behind. 

They lit a fire in the middle of the house's courtyard, and Peter sat with them near it. 

A maid saw him in the firelight, and said, "This man was with Him."

Peter denied it.

Then, someone else said, "You're one of them.", and Peter, for the second time, said, "My friend, I'm not.", trying to be at one with the world rather than on the side of He Who programmed all.

An hour later, a third man said positively, "This man was with Him.  And, he's a Galilean."

For the third time, Peter denied the truth, saying, "My friend (again, trying to not be separated from the worldly), I don't know what you're talking about."

As he was saying this, the rooster crowed (at dawn?), and Jesus turned and looked at Peter, who remembered the recent prophecy that he'd deny Him three times before a rooster crowed.  (Few passages in Scripture show the power of The Programmer as well as this.)

Peter went out, and wept bitterly.  Those who kept Jesus under their authority were making fun of Him, and beating Him.  They put a blindfold on Him, and demanded that He tell them who was striking them, trying to show that He was not a real prophet.

They mocked and reviled Him, denying the divinity of The Program and their own prophets.  When daylight came, the Council of Elders was convened, both priests and scribes, who brought Him before their court.

They said, "If You are the Christ, tell us."  He answered, "If I tell you, you won't believe, and if I question, you will not answer.  But, from this time on, The Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the Power of He Who Programmed all."

They all wanted to know, "Are You, then, The Son of God (His Program, in human form)?"  He replied, "You say, (by your words and actions in fulfilling the prophecies) that I am."

They said, "We don't need any more testimony.  We heard it from His Own mouth."

Then, all of them got up (hard to imagine such a triumph of self-righteousness), and brought Him before Pontius Pilate.  They charged Him with leading the people astray, with encouraging tax avoidance, and claiming to be a rival king to Caesar.

Pilate asked Him, "Are you the Jew's king?"  Jesus answered, "You say so."

Pilate then told the chief priests and the mobs they and the scribes had gathered, "I find this man not guilty."

They couldn't accept that, and said, "He's been inciting people throughout Judea and Galilee, where He's from."

So, Pilate asked if He was a Galilean. When finding that He was, he got out of the dilemma by sending Him to Herod, ruler of Galilee.

Herod was glad to see Jesus.  He'd heard of Him, and was wanting to be amused and amazed by seeing Him do a miracle before him.

So, Herod questioned Him at length, but got no answer. 

All the while, the chief priests and scribes accused Him of crimes.

Herod and his soldiers treated Him with contempt, and mocked Him before dressing Him in a resplendent robe and sending Him back to Pilate.  That day, the two rival forces representing big, centralized government and local authorities became united in their hatred of God, Truth, and Love.

Pilate then called the chief priests, the local government officials, and the people, saying:  "You brought this Man to me, and accused Him of inciting revolt.  I looked into it, while you watched and heard, and found that He is not guilty of the charges you brought against Him.  Herod didn't find Him guilty, either, and sent Him back to my authority.  Since He's not guilty of any serious crime, I'll have Him flogged and released."

The mob was incite to cry out, "Kill this Man!  Release the Barabbas, in jail for revolutionary activities and murder!  We'd rather have him than this Man (Who tells nothing but the truth we don't want to hear).

Pilate tried to calm them down, but they kept shouting (at the instigation of the corrupting virus through the mouths of the Jerusalem religious and civil authorities) "Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!"

For the third time, Pilate tried to calm them down.  "What evil has He done?  I can't find any evidence of real wrong-doing.  Therefore, I'll have Him flogged and released."

They shouted all the louder that He be crucified, and they got heir way.

Pilate agreed that he'd do what they wanted, so he released the rebellious murderer, Barabbas, and gave Jesus to let them do what they wanted.

As they took Him away, they grabbed Simone, of Cyrene.  Since Jesus was made to weak by the flogging to carry His cross, they made Simon carry it, following Jesus to the place of Crucifixion.

A large crowd followed, including many women who were wracked with sorrow.

Jesus turned to them, saying  "Women of Jerusalem, don't cry for me, but for yourselves and your children because things are going to get so bad that people will say that the barren are blessed.

Then, people will beg the mountains to fall on them, and the hills to protect them.  If these things can happen to Me, worse will happen to you."

Two criminals were taken with Him to be executed.  When they got to The Skull, they crucified the three of them, with Jesus between those who'd actually broken laws.

Jesus said, "Programmer, erase their sins.  They don't know what they're doing."

(As the prophet had predicted)  The executioners divided His garments by casting lots for them.

The people stood by, and watched while the local officials sneered and said

"He saved others, let Him save Himself, if He is (as He claimed to be) the chosen Christ of God."

The soldiers jeered, too.  As they came near to give Him wine, they said,

"If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself."  Above Him, they put a sign that said "This is the King of the Jews".

One of the criminals tried to ingratiate himself with the authorities (hoping to be taken down?), and said, "Aren't you the Christ?  Save Yourself, and us."

The other criminal's honesty came out, even in his agony, "Have you no fear of God?  You are subject to the same death (and subsequent judgment).  We were sentenced to death because we deserved it,

but this Man has done nothing really wrong." 

Then he said, (at the prompting of the Holy Spirit?) "Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom."

Jesus answered, "I say to you, 'So be it.  Today, you will be with Me in Paradise."

By this time, it was noon, and there was an eclipse of the sun that lasted for three hours, something which had never happened, before or since.  Then, the veil of the Temple (a very thick, tough felt curtain) was torn down the middle, removing the separation of God from His people.

Then, after that part of The Program came to pass, Jesus cried, "Father, into Your Hands, I commend My Spirit."

When this had been said (proving His total, complete obedience) He died.

The Roman centurion had witnessed everything.  He praised God, and said, "This man was innocent beyond all doubt." 

Those who had come out to see saw what had happened, and went home beating their breasts (In triumph, sorrow, or both?)

His acquaintances, along with the women from Galilee, stood, away from the cross and witnessed what had happened.

A good man, Joseph, though a member of the Jerusalem establishment, hadn't agreed that it was right to have Jesus crucified.  He was from Arimathea, and didn't want them to kill Jesus.

He had the courage to risk his social standing, and the enmity of the Roman/Jerusalem establishments and ask Pilate for Jesus's Body.   After he took It down and wrapped it in a linen cloth, he laid It in a brand new tomb carved out of solid rock.  It was the day of preparation and The Sabbath was about to begin.

The Galilean women followed, and when they saw the tomb, and how His Body was put in it, they came back, getting the spices and oils ready.  Then, they rested on the Sabbath, as the Commandment ordered.