6th Sunday of Lent (B)

Sunday March 28, 2021

Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion (B)

Gospel Mk 14: 1-15: 47

The Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were to take place in two days’ time. So the chief priests and the scribes were seeking a way to arrest him by treachery and put him to death.
They said, “Not during the festival, for fear that there may be a riot among the people.”
When he was in Bethany reclining at table in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil, costly genuine spikenard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it on his head. There were some who were indignant. “Why has there been this waste of perfumed oil?
It could have been sold for more than three hundred days’ wages and the money given to the poor.”
They were infuriated with her. Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good thing for me. The poor you will always have with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them, but you will not always have me. She has done what she could. She has anticipated anointing my body for burial. Amen, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed to the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went off to the chief priests to hand him over to them. When they heard him they were pleased and promised to pay him money. Then he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city and a man will meet you, carrying a jar of water. Follow him. Wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?”’ Then he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready. Make the preparations for us there.” The disciples then went off, entered the city, and found it just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover.
When it was evening, he came with the Twelve. And as they reclined at table and were eating, Jesus said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” They began to be distressed and to say to him, one by one, “Surely it is not I?” He said to them, “One of the Twelve, the one who dips with me into the dish. For 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.”
While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take it; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many. Amen, I say to you, I shall not drink again the fruit of the vine until the day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” Then, after singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will have your faith shaken, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be dispersed. But after I have been raised up, I shall go before you to Galilee.” Peter said to him, “Even though all should have their faith shaken, mine will not be.” Then Jesus said to him, “Amen, I say to you, this very night before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” But he vehemently replied, “Even though I should have to die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all spoke similarly. Then they came to a place named Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be troubled and distressed. Then he said to them, “My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch.” He advanced a little and fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass by him; he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Take this cup away from me, but not what I will but what you will.” When he returned he found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” Withdrawing again, he prayed, saying the same thing.
Then he returned once more and found them asleep, for they could not keep their eyes open and did not know what to answer him. He returned a third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners. Get up, let us go. See, my betrayer is at hand.”
Then, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. His betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, “The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and lead him away securely.” He came and immediately went over to him and said, “Rabbi.” And he kissed him. At this they laid hands on him and arrested him. One of the bystanders drew his sword, struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his ear. Jesus said to them in reply, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs, to seize me? Day after day I was with you teaching in the temple area, yet you did not arrest me; but that the Scriptures may be fulfilled.” And they all left him and fled. Now a young man followed him wearing nothing but a linen cloth about his body. They seized him, but he left the cloth behind and ran off naked.
They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. Peter followed him at a distance into the high priest’s courtyard and was seated with the guards, warming himself at the fire. The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none. Many gave false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. Some took the stand and testified falsely against him,
alleging, “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands and within three days I will build another not made with hands.’” Even so their testimony did not agree. The high priest rose before the assembly and questioned Jesus, saying, “Have you no answer? What are these men testifying against you?” But he was silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him and said to him, “Are you the Christ, the son of the Blessed One?” Then Jesus answered, “I am;
and ‘you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.’” At that the high priest tore his garments and said, “hat further need have we of witnesses?
You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as deserving to die.
Some began to spit on him. They blindfolded him and struck him and said to him, “Prophesy!”
And the guards greeted him with blows.
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the high priest’s maids came along. Seeing Peter warming himself, she looked intently at him and said, “You too were with the Nazarene, Jesus.”
But he denied it saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” So he went out into the outer court. Then the cock crowed. The maid saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” Once again he denied it. A little later the bystanders said to Peter once more, “Surely you are one of them; for you too are a Galilean.” He began to curse and to swear, “I do not know this man about whom you are talking.” And immediately a cock crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice you will deny me three times.” He broke down and wept.
As soon as morning came, the chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, the whole Sanhedrin held a council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He said to him in reply, “You say so.” The chief priests accused him of many things. Again Pilate questioned him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they accuse you of.” Jesus gave him no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.
Now on the occasion of the feast he used to release to them one prisoner whom they requested.
A man called Barabbas was then in prison along with the rebels who had committed murder in a rebellion. The crowd came forward and began to ask him to do for them as he was accustomed.
Pilate answered, “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” For he knew that it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed him over. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd 
to have him release Barabbas for them instead. Pilate again said to them in reply, “Then what do you want me to do with the man you call the king of the Jews?” They shouted again, “Crucify him.”
Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Crucify him.”
So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged,
handed him over to be crucified. The soldiers led him away inside the palace, that is, the praetorium, and assembled the whole cohort. They clothed him in purple and, weaving a crown of thorns, placed it on him. They began to salute him with, A Hail, King of the Jews!” and kept striking his head with a reed and spitting upon him. They knelt before him in homage. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak, dressed him in his own clothes, and led him out to crucify him.

They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyenian, who was coming in from the country,
the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. They brought him to the place of Golgotha
— which is translated Place of the Skull — They gave him wine drugged with myrrh, but he did not take it. Then they crucified him and divided his garments by casting lots for them to see what each should take. It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” With him they crucified two revolutionaries, one on his right and one on his left. Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself by coming down from the cross.” Likewise the chief priests, with the scribes, mocked him among themselves and said, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also kept abusing him.
At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And at three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “Look, he is calling Elijah.” One of them ran, soaked a sponge with wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink saying, “Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to take him down.” Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.

Here all kneel and pause for a short time.

The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” There were also women looking on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and of Joses, and Salome. These women had followed him when he was in Galilee
and ministered to him. There were also many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem. When it was already evening, since it was the day of preparation, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a distinguished member of the council, who was himself awaiting the kingdom of God, came and courageously went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was amazed that he was already dead. He summoned the centurion and asked him if Jesus had already died. And when he learned of it from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. Having bought a linen cloth, he took him down, wrapped him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses watched where he was laid.

Ebanjelioa Markos 14: 1-15: 47

1 Handik bi egunera, Pazko-jaia eta Legamia gabeko Ogien Jaia ospatzen ziren. Apaizburu eta lege-maisuak Jesus maltzurkeriaz nola atxilotuko zebiltzan, hiltzeko. 2 Baina hau zioten: «Ez gero jaiegunean, herrian iskanbilarik sor ez dadin».Jesus Betanian zen, Simon legendunaren etxean. Mahaian zegoela, emakume bat etorri zen, hartzurizko ontzian nardozko ukendu garbi eta garestia zekarrela. Ontzia hautsi eta Jesusi burura isuri zion. 4 Batzuek, haserre, honela ziotsoten elkarri: –Zergatik horrela alferrik galdu ukendu hori? 5 Hirurehun denarioz goitik sal zitekeen eta dirua behartsuei eman. Eta marmarrean ari ziren emakumearen kontra. 6 Baina Jesusek esan zien: –Utzi bakean honi; zergatik gogaitarazten duzue? Egintza ona egin du nirekin. 7 Izan ere, behartsuak beti dituzue zeuen artean, eta nahi duzuenean egin diezaiekezue on. Baina ni ez nauzue betiko zuekin. 8 Ahal zuena egin du: nire gorputza ukenduz igurtzi du aldez aurretik hilobirako. 9 Benetan diotsuet: Mundu guztian barrena, berri ona hots egingo den edonon aipatuko dira emakume hau eta beronek egina. 10 Judas Iskariote, Hamabietako bat, apaizburuengana joan zen, Jesus beraiei eskuetara emateko asmotan. 11 Entzutean, poztu egin ziren haiek eta dirua agindu zioten. Jesus haien eskuetara emateko egokiera bila hasi zen Judas. 12 Legamia gabeko Ogien Jaiko lehen eguna zen, Pazko-bildotsa hiltzen zeneko eguna. Ikasleek esan zioten Jesusi: –Non egin behar ditugu Pazko-afarirako prestaketak? 13 Hark ikasleetako bi bidali zituen, esanez: –Zoazte hirira, eta ur-suila daraman gizon batekin egingo duzue topo. Jarraitu berari, 14 eta sartuko den etxeko nagusiari esan: «Maisuak galdetzen du non duen ikasleekin Pazko-bildotsa jateko tokia». 15 Berak gela zabal bat erakutsiko dizue goian, jantzirik eta atondua; prestatu hantxe behar ditugunak. 16 Joan ziren ikasleak eta, hirira iristean, dena Jesusek esan bezala gertatu zitzaien, eta Pazko-afaria prestatu zuten. 17 Ilunabarrean, joan zen Jesus Hamabiekin 18 eta, mahaian afaltzen ari zirelarik, Jesusek esan zuen: –Benetan diotsuet: Zuetako batek saldu egingo nau, nirekin jaten ari den batek.

19 Haiek, goibeldurik, galdezka hasi zitzaizkion bata bestearen ondoren: –Nik ote? 20 Jesusek erantzun: –Hamabiotako batek, nirekin plater beretik jaten ari denak. 21 Gizonaren Semea badoa, bai, Liburu Santuek hartaz dioten bezala; baina dohakabea Gizonaren Semea salduko duena! Hobe zukeen jaio izan ez balitz! 22 Afaltzen ari zirela, ogia hartu zuen Jesusek eta, bedeinkazioa esan ondoren, zatitu eta eman egin zien, esanez: «Hartzazue, hau nire gorputza da». 23 Gero, kopa hartu eta, esker oneko otoitza egin ondoren, eman egin zien eta denek edan zuten. 24 Eta esan zien: «Hau nire odola da, Jainkoarekiko ituna berrituko duena, guztiengatik isuria. 25 Benetan diotsuet: Ez dut gehiago ardorik edango, Jainkoaren erreinuan ardo berria edan arte».

26 Gorazarreak kantatu ondoren, Oliamendira abiatu ziren. 27 Jesusek esan zien: «Zuen sinesmenak huts egingo du, honela baitago idatzia Liburu Santuetan: Joko dut artzaina eta ardiak sakabanatu egingo dira. 28 Baina piztu ondoren, aurretik joango natzaizue Galileara». 29 Pedrok esan zion: –Beste guztien sinesmenak huts egiten badu ere, nireak ez.

30 Jesusek erantzun: –Benetan diotsut: Gaur gauean, oilarrak bitan jo baino lehen, zuk hirutan ukatuko nauzu. 31 Baina Pedrok, gero eta areago: –Zurekin hil behar badut ere, ez zaitut inola ere ukatuko. Eta beste hainbeste zioten denek. 32 Getsemani izeneko landa batera iritsi ziren, eta Jesusek esan zien bere ikasleei: «Zaudete hemen, nik otoitz egin bitartean». 33 Pedro, Santiago eta Joan eraman zituen berekin. Ikara eta larria sentitzen hasi zen, 34 eta esan zien: «Hiltzeko zorian nago tristuraz. Gelditu hemen eta zaudete erne». 35 Eta aurreraxeago joanik, lurrean erori eta otoizka ari zitzaion Jainkoari, urrun ziezaiola ordu hura, ahal bazen. 36 Honela zioen: «Abba, Aita! Zure esku dago guztia; urrun ezazu niregandik edari samin hau! Baina egin bedi zure nahia, ez nirea». 37 Ikasleengana joan eta lotan aurkitu zituen. Pedrori esan zion: «Simon, lotan? Ordubete ere ezin izan zara erne egon? 38 Zaudete erne eta egizue otoitz, tentaldian ez erortzeko: gogoz kartsu izan arren, ahula baita gizakia». 39 Berriro aldendu eta otoitz egin zuen, lehengo hitz berak esanez. 40 Berriro itzulirik, lo aurkitu zituen, begiak astun baitzituzten; haiek ez zekiten zer esan. 41 Joan zitzaien hirugarren aldiz eta esan zien: «Egin lo eta hartu atseden! Kito! Iritsi da ordua: hona Gizonaren Semea bekatarien eskuetara emana. 42 Jaiki, goazen, hemen da salduko nauena!» 43 Jesus hizketan ari zela, han agertu zen Judas, Hamabietako bat; gizon-multzo bat zetorren harekin, ezpata eta makilak eskuetan, apaizburu, lege-maisu eta zaharrek bidalirik. 44 Saltzaileak seinale hau jarria zien: «Nik musu emango diodana, horixe da; atxilotu eta eraman arduraz». 45 Iritsi zeneko, Jesusengana hurbildu eta esan zion: «Maisu!» Eta musu eman zion. 46 Besteek heldu eta atxilotu egin zuten. 47 Han zegoen batek ezpata atera, apaiz nagusiaren morroia jo eta belarria moztu zion. 48 Jesusek esan zien: «Ezpataz eta makilaz etorri zarete, lapur baten bila bezala, ni harrapatzera! 49 Egunero zuen artean nengoen tenpluan irakasten, eta ez ninduzuen atxilotu. Baina hala behar du, Liburu Santuetan idatzia bete dadin». 50 Ikasleek Jesus utzi eta ihes egin zuten. 51 Gazte bat ondoren zihoakion, soinean oihal bat besterik ez zuela. Heldu zioten, 52 baina oihala utzi eta ihes egin zien biluzik. 53 Apaiz nagusiaren etxera eraman zuten Jesus eta han bildu ziren apaizburu, zahar eta lege-maisu guztiak. 54 Pedro Jesusen ondoren joana zen, urrutitik jarraituz, apaiz nagusiaren jauregi barruraino. Eta morroiekin batera eserita, sutondoan berotzen ari zen. 55 Apaizburuak eta Biltzar Nagusi osoa Jesusen kontrako lekukotasun bila zebiltzan, heriotzara kondenatzeko, baina ezin zuten aurkitu; 56 askok haren kontra gezurrezko testigantzak egiten bazituzten ere, haien lekukotasunak ez zetozen bat. 57 Batzuek zutitu eta gezurrezko testigantza hau egin zuten Jesusen kontra: 58 «Geuk entzun diogu esaten: Nik, giza eskuz egindako santutegi hau desegingo dut eta hiru egunetan beste bat eraikiko, giza eskuz egin gabea». 59 Baina honetan ere ez zetozen bat beren esanetan. 60 Orduan, apaiz nagusiak, biltzarraren erdian zutik, galdetu zion Jesusi: –Ez al diezu deus ere erantzun behar zure kontra ateratzen dituztenei? 61 Baina Jesus isilik zegoen, eta ez zuen ezer erantzuten. Apaiz nagusiak berriro galdetu zion: –Zu al zara Mesias, Jainko bedeinkatuaren Semea? 62 Jesusek erantzun: –Bai, neu naiz, eta Gizonaren Semea Ahalguztidunaren eskuinean eserita eta zeruko hodei artean etortzen ikusiko duzue. 63 Apaiz nagusiak bere jantziak urratu zituen eta esan: –Ba ote dugu lekuko beharrik? 64 Zeuek entzun duzue biraoa. Zer deritzozue? Heriotza merezi zuela erabaki zuten denek. 65 Batzuk listuka hasi zitzaizkion eta, aurpegia estalirik, ukabilkadak ematen zizkioten, esanez: «Asma ezak, profeta!» Guardiek ere masailekoka zerabilten. 66 Pedro beheko patioan zegoela, apaiz nagusiaren neskame bat etorri zen. 67 Pedro berotzen ikusirik, begira jarri eta esan zion: –Hi ere Nazareteko Jesusekin bizi hintzen. 68 Baina hark ukatu, esanez: –Ez zekinat zer dionan ere, ez dinat ulertzen. Atarira irten zen, eta oilarrak jo zuen. 69 Ikusi zuen neskameak eta han zeudenei ere honela hasi zitzaien: –Hau ere haietakoa diagu. 70 Pedrok berriro ukatu zuen. Geroxeago, ingurukoek ere esan zioten: –Bai, haietakoa haiz, noski, galilearra haiz eta. 71 Orduan, Pedro biraoka eta maldizioka hasi zen: –Ez dut ezagutzen zuek diozuen hori. 72 Une hartan, bigarren aldiz jo zuen oilarrak. Gogoratu zitzaion Pedrori Jesusek esana: «Oilarrak bitan jo baino lehen, zuk hirutan ukatuko nauzu», eta negarrari eman zion.

15,1 Eguna argitu bezain laster, apaizburu, zahar eta lege-maisuak bildu ziren –Biltzar Nagusi osoa–, eta, erabakia hartu ondoren, Jesus lotuta eraman zuten eta Pilatoren eskuetara eman. 2 Pilatok galdetu zion: –Zu al zara juduen erregea? Jesusek erantzun zion:   –Zeuk diozu. Apaizburuek salaketa asko egiten zituzten haren kontra. 4 Pilatok esan zion:

–Ez al duzu ezer erantzun behar? Begira zenbat gauzaz salatzen zaituzten. 5 Baina Jesusek ez baitzion gehiago erantzun, harriturik gelditu zen Pilato. 6 Pazko-jaiero preso bat askatu ohi zuen Pilatok, herriak eskatzen zuena. 7 Bazen kartzelan Barrabas zeritzan bat, matxinadakoan giza hilketa bat egina, beste batzuekin batera. 8 Igo zen jendea gobernariaren jauregira eta ohitura zuena emateko eskatu zioten. 9 Pilatok erantzun zien:

–Nahi al duzue juduen erregea askatzea? 10 Ongi baitzekien apaizburuek bekaizkeriaz emana ziotela Jesus. 11 Baina apaizburuek jendea berotu zuten, Barrabas libratzeko eska zezan. 12 Berriro mintzatu zitzaien Pilato: –Eta zer egin behar dut juduen errege deitzen duzuen honekin? 13 Jendeak, orduan, oihu: –Gurutzera hori! 14 Eta Pilatok: –Zer oker egin du, bada? Haiek, are eta oihu handiagoz: –Gurutzera hori! 15 Orduan, Pilatok, jendeari poz emateagatik, Barrabas askatu zien eta Jesus, zigorkarazi ondoren, haien eskuetara eman zuen, gurutziltza zezaten. 16 Soldaduek gobernariaren jauregira sartu zuten Jesus, eta gudari-taldeko denak bildu zituzten. 17 Purpurazko jantzia ipini zioten soinean eta arantzaz egindako koroa buruan. 18 Eta agurka hasi zitzaizkion: «Agur, juduen erregea!» 19 Kanabera batez jotzen zuten buruan, listua botatzen zioten eta, belaunikatuz, aurrean ahuspez jartzen zitzaizkion. 20 Nahikoa iseka egin ondoren, purpurazko jantzia erantzi eta bere soinekoak jarri zizkioten. Gero, atera eta gurutzean josteko eraman zuten. 21 Sorotik etxerakoan handik zihoan bat, Simon Zirenekoa (Alexandro eta Ruforen aita), Jesusen gurutzea eramatera behartu zuten. 22 Golgota izeneko tokira eraman zuten Jesus (Golgotak «Burezur» esan nahi du). 23 Mirraz nahasiriko ardoa eskaini zioten, baina ez zuen hartu. 24 Josi zuten gurutzean, eta haren jantziak banatu egin zituzten, zer zeinentzat zotz eginez. 25 Bederatziak ziren gurutziltzatu zutenean. 26 Eta honela zioen kondenaren arrazoia adierazten zuen idazkunak: «Juduen erregea». 27 Jesusekin batera, bi lapur gurutziltzatu zituzten, bata eskuinean eta bestea ezkerrean. 29 Handik igarotzen zirenek irain egiten zioten Jesusi, buruari eragin eta esanez: «Hara, santutegia desegin eta hiru egunetan eraikitzen omen duena! 30 Salba ezak heure burua! Jaits hadi gurutzetik!» 31 Era berean, apaizburu eta lege-maisuek ere irri egiten zioten, elkarri esanez: «Besteak salbatu ditik, eta bere burua ezin. 32 Mesias omen duk hori, Israelgo erregea; jaits dadila orain gurutzetik, ikus eta sinets dezagun». Berarekin gurutzean josiak zeudenek ere irain egiten zioten. 33 Eguerdian, ilundu egin zuen lurbira osoan hirurak arte. 34 Hiruretan, Jesusek oihu handiz esan zuen: «Eloi, Eloi, lema sabaktani?» (Hau da: «Ene Jainko, ene Jainko, zergatik utzi nauzu?»). 35 Hau entzutean, bertan zeuden batzuek esan zuten: «Eliasi deika ari duk». 36 Orduan, batek, lasterka joan, belaki bat ozpinetan busti eta, kanabera bati muturrean erantsiz, edatera eman zion, esanez: «Egon, ea datorkion Elias gurutzetik eraistera». 37 Baina Jesusek, deiadar handia eginez, azken arnasa eman zuen. 38 Orduan, santutegiko oihala erdiz erdi urratu zen, goitik behera. 39 Aurrean zegoen erromatar ehuntariak, nola hil zen ikustean, esan zuen: «Zinez, gizon hau Jainkoaren Semea zen». 40 Baziren han emakume batzuk ere, urrutitik begira; haien artean, Magdalako Maria, Santiago gaztearen eta Joseren ama Maria, eta Salome. 41 Hauek Jesusen ondoren eta beraren zerbitzuan ibiliak ziren, Galilean zegoela; bazeuden beste emakume asko ere, Jesusekin Jerusalemera igotakoak. 42 Ilunabarrean –larunbat-bezpera zen egun hura, festarako prestaketak egiteko eguna–, 43 Arimateako Jose Pilatogana joatera ausartu zen, Jesusen gorpua eskatzera. Jose hau kontseiluko kide ospetsua zen, eta Jainkoaren erregetza noiz iritsiko zain zegoen. 44 Harritu zen Pilato ordurako hila izateaz, eta ehuntariari dei egin eta galdetu zion ea egia zen hilda zegoela. 45 Ehuntariaren argibideak jaso ondoren, gorpua eramateko baimena eman zion Joseri. 46 Honek izara bat erosi eta, Jesus gurutzetik eraitsirik, izaran bildu zuen eta haitzean zulaturiko hilobi batean ezarri. Gero, harri bat irauliz, hilobiko sarrera itxi zuen. 47 Magdalako Maria eta Maria, Joseren ama, non ezartzen zuten begira zeuden.

They crucified him!

He had no money, weapons or power. He had no religious authority. He was not a priest or Scribe. He was nobody. However, he carried in his heart the fire of love for the crucified, the excluded. He knew that for God these were the first. This profound conviction marked forever the life of Jesus. He went to the least and the last and became one with them. He too would live without family, homeless and without a steady work. He healed the sick he found on his way, hugged children, and touched all those nobody dared to touch, sat at the table with them and to all helped restored their lost dignity and self-esteem. His message was always the same: “These very people you throw away from your society are the favorites of God.”

A man with such deep convictions was considered a public threat. He had to be removed. His execution was not a mistake or an unfortunate coincidence of circumstances. All was well calculated. Such a man is always a threat in a society that ignores the least and the last. 

According to the oldest Christian sources, as he was dying, Jesus “gave a loud cry.” This cry not only was the final cry of a dying man. In that cry, all the crucified in history were screaming. It was a cry of indignation and protest. It was at the same time, a cry of hope. 

The early Christians never forgot that final dramatic cry of Jesus. In the cry of this man— dishonored, tortured and executed, and yet offering open arms to all without excluding anyone—we find the ultimate truth of life. In the powerless love of the one crucified, God himself is crucified, and identified with all who suffer and shout against the injustice, abuse and torture of all times. 

One may or may not believe in this God, but certainly, no one can make fun of Him. This God is not a caricature of a supreme and omnipotent Being, eager to demand from his creatures more sacrifices to further increase HIS honor and glory. On the contrary, He is a God who suffers with the suffering, shouts and protests with the victims of all times, and seeks Life with us and for us. 

To believe in this God, it is not enough to be pious; it is also necessary to have compassion. To adore the mystery of a crucified God, it is not enough to celebrate the Holy Week; It is also necessary to look at life from the perspective of the suffering and to try to identify ourselves a little more with them.

¡Lo crucificaron!

No tenía dinero, armas ni poder. Él no tenía autoridad religiosa. Él no era un sacerdote o escriba. Él no era nadie. Sin embargo, llevó en su corazón el fuego del amor por los crucificados, los excluidos. Él sabía que para Dios estos eran los primeros. Esta profunda convicción marcó para siempre la vida de Jesús. Buscó a los últimos, y se hizo uno con ellos. Él también viviría sin familia, sin hogar y sin un trabajo estable. Sanó a los enfermos que encontró en su camino, abrazó a los niños, y tocó a todos los que nadie se atrevió a tocar, se sentó a la mesa con ellos y a todos ayudó a restaurar su dignidad y autoestima perdidas. Su mensaje siempre fue el mismo: “Estas mismas personas que arrojas de tu sociedad, son las preferidas de Dios.”

Un hombre con convicciones tan profundas era considerado una amenaza pública. Él tenía que ser eliminado. Su ejecución no fue un error o una desafortunada coincidencia de circunstancias. Todo estaba bien calculado. Un hombre así, es siempre una amenaza en una sociedad que ignora a los excluidos y a los últimos. Según las fuentes cristianas más antiguas, cuando estaba muriendo, Jesús “lanzó un fuerte grito.” Este grito no solo fue el último grito de un moribundo. En ese grito, todos los crucificados en la historia estaban gritando. Fue un grito desgarrador de indignación y protesta. Fue al mismo tiempo, un grito de esperanza.

Los primeros cristianos nunca olvidaron ese último grito dramático de Jesús. En el clamor de este hombre, deshonrado, torturado y ejecutado, y, sin embargo, ofreciendo los brazos abiertos a todos sin excluir a nadie, encontramos la verdad suprema de la vida. En el amor impotente del crucificado, Dios mismo es crucificado e identificado con todos los que sufren y gritan contra la injusticia, el abuso y la tortura de todos los tiempos.

Uno puede o no creer en este Dios, pero ciertamente, nadie puede burlarse de él. Este Dios no es una caricatura de un Ser supremo y omnipotente, deseoso de exigir a sus criaturas más sacrificios para aumentar aún más SU honor y gloria. Por el contrario, Él es un Dios que sufre con el sufrimiento, grita y protesta con las víctimas de todos los tiempos, y busca la Vida con nosotros y para nosotros.

Para creer en este Dios, no es suficiente ser piadoso; también es necesario tener compasión. Adorar el misterio de un Dios crucificado no es suficiente para celebrar la Semana Santa; También es necesario mirar la vida desde la perspectiva del sufrimiento e intentar identificarnos un poco más con ellos