Reading from the Gospel, Friday April 3 (click here)

Liturgical Day: Friday April 3, Holy Friday
   Gospel (Jn 18, 1 to 19.42): At that time Jesus went with his disciples across the Kidron valley, where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. But Judas, who betrayed him, knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. Judas then, arrives there with the cohort and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus knew everything that was going to happen, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?". They said, "Jesus of Nazareth". He said to them: 'I am'. Judas, who betrayed him, stood with them. When I said, 'I am', back and fell to the ground. He asked again: "Whom do you seek?". They said, "Jesus of Nazareth". Jesus answered, "I have told you that I am; so if you seek me, let these others go. " This was to fulfill what he had said: "Of those who have given me, I have not lost any." Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword back into its sheath. The cup which the Father hath given me, would not I drink? ".

Then the cohort and the captain and the officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, led him to Annas first, for he was father in law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. It was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it that one man die for the people. Simon Peter followed Jesus, and another disciple. This disciple was known to the high priest and went in with Jesus into the court of the high priest, while Peter stayed outside by the door. So the other disciple, the one known to the high priest, spoke to the doorkeeper and ushered Pedro. The caretaker girl says to Peter, "Are not you another of the disciples of that man?". He says: "I am not." The servants and guards had hot coals because it was cold, and warmed. Peter was also with them warming. The high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. Jesus replied: "I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together, and I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask? Ask those who heard me what I have told you; they know what I said. " When he said this, one of the officers standing, slapped Jesus, saying, "So you answer the high priest?". Jesus answered, "If I have spoken evil, declares what is wrong; but if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me? ". Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Simon Peter warming was there and said, 'Are not you another of his disciples?'. He denied it saying, "I am not." One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter cut off, says, "Did not I see thee in the garden with Him?". Peter again denied, and immediately the cock crew.

From the house of Caiaphas bring Jesus into the common hall. It was early morning. They did not enter the praetorium not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. He left Pilate out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this man?". They replied, "If he were not a malefactor, we would not get delivered." Pilate replied, "Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law." The Jews replied: "We can not put anyone to death." This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated what death he should die. Then Pilate entered the praetorium again and called Jesus and said, "Are you the King of the Jews?". Jesus answered: "Do you say this by yourself, or did others tell you about me?". Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me. What have you done? ". Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight that was not delivered to the Jews: but my kingdom is not from here. " Pilate said, "So you are a king?". Jesus answered, "Yes, as you say, I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice. " Pilate said to him, "What is truth?". And with that, went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no fault in Him But is customary among you who to release one for Easter.. Will ye therefore that I release to you the King of the Jews? ". They shouted back saying, "At that, no; Barabbas. " Barabbas was a robber.

Then Pilate took Jesus and scourged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and clothed him in a purple robe; and, approaching him, he said, "Hail, King of the Jews." And gave him blows. Pilate went out again and said, "Behold, I am bringing him out that you may know that I find no fault in Him." He then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said "Behold the man." When they saw the chief priests and the guards shouted, "Crucify him, crucify him!". Pilate said to them: "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no crime in him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God." When Pilate heard these words, he was even more afraid. He went back into the palace and said to Jesus, "Where are you? '. But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate said to him, "Have not speak to me? Do not you know I have power to release thee, and power to crucify you? ". Jesus answered, "You would have no power over me, unless it were given thee from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin. " From then on, Pilate tried to save him. But the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar; All makes himself a king is against Caesar. " When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat on the court at the place called Pavement, but in Hebrew Gabbatha. It was the day of Preparation of the Passover, at the sixth hour. Pilate said to the Jews, "Behold your King." They shouted: "Out, out! Crucify him. " Pilate said, "What Shall I crucify your King?". Replied the chief priests: "We have no king but Caesar." Then handed him over to be crucified.

They took therefore Jesus, and he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the Skull, in Hebrew is called Golgotha, where they crucified with him two others, one on each side and Jesus in the midst. Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. The writing was, "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews". This inscription read it many Jews, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Latin and Greek. The chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'This said, I am King of the Jews.'" Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written." The soldiers had crucified Jesus, took his garments, with which they made four parts, to every soldier, and the tunic. The tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said, "Let us not tear; but cast lots for it to see whose it. " That the scripture might be fulfilled: "They divide my garments have cast lots for my clothes." And this is what the soldiers did. Near the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved, he said to his mother: "Woman, behold your son." Then he said to the disciple, "Behold your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

After this, Jesus that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, says knowing: "I thirst." There was a vessel full of vinegar. They held to a branch of hyssop a sponge soaked in vinegar and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the vinegar, he said, "It is finished." And bowing his head he gave up his spirit.

The Jews, as it was the day of Preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on Saturday since that Sabbath was very solemnly asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away. Went, the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and the other crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs, but one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear and forthwith came there out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness and his testimony is true, and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye also may believe. And all this happened so that the scripture might be fulfilled: "You will not break a bone." And again another scripture says, "They shall look on him whom they pierced."

After this Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him leave. They came and took away his body. -that Was also Nicodemus had previously visited him by night with a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, according to the Jewish burial custom. In the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been buried. There, therefore, because it was the day of Preparation of the Jews and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus.

  Your brother in Christ, Father Santiago