Jesus Is Condemned To Death

SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 27:2-11
They bound Jesus and led him away to be handed over to the procurator Pilate. Then Judas who had handed him over, seeing that Jesus had been condemned, began to regret his action deeply. He took the thirty pieces of silver back to the chief priests and elders and said "I did wrong to deliver up an innocent man." They retorted, "What is that to us? It is your affair!" So Judas flung the money into the temple and left. He went off and hanged himself. The chief priests picked up the silver, observing, "It is not right to deposit this in the temple treasury since it is blood money." After consultation they used it to buy the potter's field as a cemetery for foreigners. That is why that field. even today, is called Blood Field. On that occasion what was said through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "They took the thirty pieces of silver, the value of a man with a price on his head, a price set by the Israelites, and they paid it for the potter's field just as the Lord commanded me." Jesus was arraigned before the procurator who questioned him: "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus responded, "As you say."

REFLECTION
It is necessary that we accept the cross of tribulation willingly, at least with the higher part of our soul, as Jesus accepted His condemnation in perfect conformity to the will of the Father. --Saint Paul of the Cross

LET US PRAY
All powerful and eternal God, You have given as a model to us Christ your Son, our Savior, who became man and was humiliated unto death on the cross: grant that we may always keep present before us the lesson He taught us by His Passion, so that we may share in the glory of His resurrection, Who lives and reigns forever and ever, AMEN.

The way of the Cross is the road which leads to Paradise; it is the sure way to holiness. The Passion of Christ is the greatest and most stupendous work of Divine Love. -- St. Paul of the Cross

Station of the Cross from the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Botkins, Ohio.