Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Old Testament
Isaiah 50:4-9
Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Psalm
Psalm
31
*At the end of the Psalms this is sung or said Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: * as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
New Testament
Philippians 2:5-11
Officiant: The Word of the Lord. The People: Thanks be to God.
Gospel
Matthew 21:1-17
Deacon:The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you. Or And with your spirit
Deacon: May the Lord be on our minds, on our lips, and on our hearts as we hear His Holy Gospel. The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew.
People: Glory to You, Lord Christ.
Deacon: We are reading from Matthew's Gospel chapter 21, beginning at verse 1.
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, 'Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and immediately he will send them.' 4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 Tell the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.' ' 6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. 8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: 'Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Hosanna in the highest!' 10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, 'Who is this?' 11 So the multitudes said, 'This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.' 12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, 'It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' ' 14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, 'Hosanna to the Son of David!' they were indignant 16 and said to Him, 'Do You hear what these are saying?' And Jesus said to them, 'Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?' 17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.
After the Gospel reading, the deacon elevates the book and says:
Deacon: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, Lord Christ.
Prayers of the People
Brothers and sisters, Jesus has called His Church to be a household of prayer for all nations. Therefore, let us pray to the Father on behalf of the whole world.
For the Church; that She will never be ashamed of the Gospel of Salvation through Christ alone.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For the nations; that they will come to know and do God's will and encourage the furthering of the Gospel.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For those who no longer practice their faith; that they will hear again the call of God, repent and return to Him.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For us; that we will have the same attitude and mindset as Christ, one of humility and obedience toward God the Father.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For us gathered here at the Eucharistic Table; that we will have a deeper understanding of the Love of Christ which He highlighted through His Passion.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For the conversion of Islam and other world religions and philosophies that are in opposition to the Word of God.
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
For our own special intentions. (Pause)
Lord in Your mercy, Hear our prayer.
Merciful God, You sent Your Son to suffer and die for our sake that we might rise with Him in newness of life. Hear our prayer and give us the grace to understand Your unconditional love demonstrated to us as we remember this Holy Week. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN