Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last.
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 Hast he said,
“Truly this man was the Son of God!”
(Mark 15:37-39)
Jesus endures physical and emotional suffering with patience and dignity maintaining innocence and integrity even when unjustly accused. His willingness to die on the cross for humanity is the ultimate demonstration of self-sacrifice and love. This teaches us about the virtue of endurance and resilience in the face of adversity. It reminds us of the depth of God’s love for us and challenges us to love others selflessly. Like Jesus, let us live with integrity, endure hardships, love selflessly, find hope in despair, and maintain our faith.
1 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. 2 Pilate questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” He said to him in reply, “You say so.” 3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 Again Pilate questioned him, “Have you no answer? See how many things they accuse you of.” 5 Jesus gave him no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed. 6 Now on the occasion of the feast he used to release to them one prisoner whom they requested. 7 A man called Barabbas was then in prison along with the rebels who had committed murder in a rebellion. 8 The crowd came forward and began to ask him to do for them as he was accustomed. 9 Pilate answered, “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” 10 For he knew that it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed him over. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead. 12 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?” 13 They shouted again, “Crucify him.” 14 Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” They only shouted the louder, “Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified. 16 The soldiers led him away inside the palace, that is, the praetorium, and assembled the whole cohort. 17 They clothed him in purple and, weaving a crown of thorns, placed it on him. 18 They began to salute him with, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 and kept striking his head with a reed and spitting upon him. They knelt before him in homage. 20 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. 21 They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. 22 They brought him to the place of Golgotha—which is translated Place of the Skull. 23 They gave him wine drugged with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 Then they crucified him and divided his garments by casting lots for them to see what each should take. 25 It was nine o’clock in the morning when they crucified him. 26 The inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 With him they crucified two revolutionaries, one on his right and one on his left. [28] 28-29 Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself by coming down from the cross.” 31 Likewise the chief priests, with the scribes, mocked him among themselves and said, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 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. 33 At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 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?” 35 Some of the bystanders who heard it said, “Look, he is calling Elijah.” 36 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.” 37 Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:1-39)
In trials and tribulations, He stood tall, Enduring suffering, for one and all. With patience and dignity, He bore the pain, maintaining innocence, with nothing to gain. Accused unjustly, yet His integrity intact, on the cross, He performed the ultimate act. A self-sacrifice, a love so profound, in His actions, true virtue is found. Endurance and resilience, lessons we learn, In the face of adversity, for these we yearn. A reminder of God's love, so deep and vast, challenging us to love, making memories that last. Selflessly, we are called to love and share, like Jesus, live with integrity, show that we care. Endure hardships, find hope in despair, maintain our faith, show the world we dare.
Lord Jesus, In Your physical and emotional suffering, You showed us the power of patience and dignity. Even when unjustly accused, You maintained Your innocence and integrity. Your willingness to die on the cross for humanity is the ultimate demonstration of self-sacrifice and love. This teaches us about the virtue of endurance and resilience in the face of adversity. It reminds us of the depth of God’s love for us and challenges us to love others selflessly. Like You, Lord Jesus, let us live with integrity, endure hardships, love selflessly, find hope in despair, and maintain our faith. Guide us in our journey and help us to follow Your example in all that we do. In Your holy name, we pray. Amen.
A servant of the Lord is one who listens to God and learns from Him the virtue of endurance and resilience in the face of adversity. He is obedient to God's divine will, regardless of the circumstances, even when it leads to suffering. Despite facing hardships and persecutions during difficult times, he remains steadfast ever trusting in the LORD’s help and vindication. He uses the wisdom he receives to comfort the weary. Let us be open to divine wisdom and guidance in our lives, listen and learn from God, endure hardships, trust in God, and remain obedient to His will using our knowledge and experiences to provide comfort and support to others. God is the source of our hope and strength during challenging times.
4 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; 5 and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. 6 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. 7 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. (Isaiah 50:4-7)
In the quiet whispers of the dawn, a servant of the Lord is born. Listening to God, learning His ways, enduring adversity, through all his days. Obedient to the divine will, he stands regardless of the trials life demands. Even when suffering takes its toll, his faith in God, it makes him whole. Hardships and persecutions may abound, Yet, in his heart, peace is found. Steadfast he remains, come what may, trusting in the LORD's help, day by day. With wisdom received, he comforts the weary, his words of solace making their lives cheery. Open to divine wisdom, guidance from above, he listens, he learns, he shares God's love. Enduring hardships, with courage so grand, trusting in God, on His promises, they stand. Obedient to His will, they find their worth, using knowledge and experiences, they comfort the earth. God is our hope, our strength, our song, In challenging times, He makes us strong. So let us listen, let us learn, let us pray, for God is with us, every step of the way.
Dear Heavenly Father, we come before You as servants, eager to listen and learn from You. Grant us the virtue of endurance and resilience in the face of adversity. Help us to be obedient to Your divine will, regardless of the circumstances, even when it leads to suffering. Despite facing hardships and persecutions during difficult times, help us to remain steadfast, ever trusting in Your help and vindication. You have blessed us with wisdom, let us use it to comfort the weary. Open our hearts to Your divine wisdom and guidance. Let us listen and learn from You, endure hardships, trust in You, and remain obedient to Your will. Use our knowledge and experiences to provide comfort and support to others. You, O God, are the source of our hope and strength during challenging times. We put our trust in You, knowing that You are with us every step of the way. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
The psalm’s prophetic nature, particularly its foreshadowing of Jesus’ crucifixion, teaches us about the consistency of God’s word and His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. God is present in our suffering and hears our cries for help. He is our source of hope and strength during challenging times. Despite mockery and suffering, a servant maintains his faith in God. Let us hold onto our faith during times of adversity and plead for God’s help and deliverance. In all circumstances, it is only fitting to praise God, acknowledging His goodness and sharing our testimonies of His work in our lives.
8 All who see me scoff at me; they mock me with parted lips, they wag their heads. 9 “He relied on the Lord; let him deliver him, let him rescue him, if he loves him.” 17 Indeed, many dogs surround me, a pack of evildoers closes in upon me; they have pierced my hands and my feet; 18 I can count all my bones. 19 They divide my garments among them, and for my vesture they cast lots. 20 But you, O Lord, be not far from me; O my help, hasten to aid me. 23 I will proclaim your name to my brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise you. 24 “You who fear the Lord, praise him; all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him; revere him, all you descendants of Israel!” (Psalm 22:8-9, 17-18, 19-20, 23-24)
In the echoes of the ancient psalm, a p prophecy, a soothing balm. Foretelling of the Savior's plight, in God's word, we find our light. His promises, He does fulfill, in His faithfulness, we find our will. Present in our suffering, He's always near, in our cries for help, He lends His ear. Our source of hope, our strength, our guide, in challenging times, He's by our side. Mockery and suffering may test our faith, Yet, a servant's trust in God is safe. Hold onto faith when adversity is near, plead for God's help, let go of fear. In His deliverance, we find our peace, in His love, our worries cease. In all circumstances, praise His name, acknowledge His goodness, proclaim His fame. Share our testimonies of His work so divine, for in our lives, His love does shine.
Dear Heavenly Father, we acknowledge the prophetic nature of the psalms, particularly the foreshadowing of Jesus’ crucifixion. We are in awe of the consistency of Your word and Your faithfulness in fulfilling Your promises. In our suffering, we know You are present. You hear our cries for help. You are our source of hope and strength during challenging times. Despite mockery and suffering, we, as Your servants, maintain our faith in You. We hold onto our faith during times of adversity and plead for Your help and deliverance. In all circumstances, it is only fitting to praise You, acknowledging Your goodness and sharing our testimonies of Your work in our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
True honor and exaltation come from God, not from worldly achievements. God exalted Jesus and bestowed on Him the name above all names because of His obedience and humility. We should always acknowledge and give reverence to Jesus as our Lord and Savior who is both human and divine. Let us follow Christ’s example of obedience to God’s will, humility, selflessness, self-sacrifice, and live in a way that is pleasing to God and beneficial to those around us.
6 Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. 7 Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, 8 he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:6-11)
True honor and exaltation, not of worldly creation, come from God, the author of our salvation. He exalted Jesus, bestowed on Him the greatest name for His obedience and humility, free of any shame. We acknowledge Jesus, our Lord and Savior so divine, both human and divine, in Him, God's love does shine. We give Him reverence, our praises we sing for He is our Lord, our Savior, our King. Let us follow Christ’s example, in all that we do, obedience to God’s will, to His commands be true. Humility, selflessness, self-sacrifice, let these be our guide, living in a way that's pleasing to God, with Him by our side. Beneficial to those around us, let our lives be a light, shining in the darkness, making the world bright. In all things, let God's love be our vision, living for Him, making that our mission.
Dear Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that true honor and exaltation come from You, not from worldly achievements. We thank You for exalting Jesus and bestowing on Him the name above all names because of His obedience and humility. We acknowledge and give reverence to Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We marvel at His dual nature, both human and divine. We are grateful for His sacrifice and the salvation it brings. Help us to follow Christ’s example of obedience to Your will. Grant us the humility to put others before ourselves, the selflessness to consider the needs of others, and the courage to make sacrifices when necessary. Guide us to live in a way that is pleasing to You and beneficial to those around us. Let our lives reflect Your love and grace. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
Pericope:
IV: The Full Revelation of the Mystery
JESUS BEFORE PILATE / THE WAY OF THE CROSS / THE WAY OF THE CROSS / THE CRUCIFIXION / THE DEATH OF JESUS
Mark 15:1-15 / 16-20 / 21 / 22-32 / 33-39
II: Expiation of Sin, Spiritual Liberation of Israel
SALVATION ONLY THROUGH THE LORD'S SERVANT
Isaiah 50:1-11
First Book of Psalms: 1-41
THE PRAYER OF AN INNOCENT PERSON
Psalm 22:1-32
III: Instructions for the Community
PLEA FOR UNITY AND HUMILITY
Philippians 2:1-11
