PALM SUNDAY

INTROIT. Domine, ne longe. Ps. 22.
Be not thou far from me, O Lord, thou art my succour, haste thee to help me: save me from the lion’s mouth, thou hast heard me also from among the horns of the unicorns. Ps. ibid. My God, my God, look upon me: why hast thou forsaken me: and art so far from my health, and from the words of my complaint? Be not thou.

COLLECT. Almighty and everlasting God, who, of thy tender love towards mankind, hast sent thy Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, to take upon him our flesh, and to suffer death upon the Cross, that all mankind should follow the example of his great humility: mercifully grant that we may both follow the example of his patience, and also be made partakers of his resurrection. Through the same Jesus Christ our Lord

FIRST LESSON:  ISAIAH 50:4-7

[4] The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him that is weary. Morning by morning he wakens, he wakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. [5] The Lord GOD has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I turned not backward. [6] I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I hid not my face from shame and spitting. [7] For the Lord GOD helps me; therefore I have not been confounded; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame;

PSALM 22:1-18

[1] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?

[2] O my God, I cry by day, but thou dost not answer; and by night, but find no rest.

[3] Yet thou art holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

[4] In thee our fathers trusted; they trusted, and thou didst deliver them.

[5] To thee they cried, and were saved; in thee they trusted, and were not disappointed.

[6] But I am a worm, and no man; scorned by men, and despised by the people.

[7] All who see me mock at me, they make mouths at me, they wag their heads;

[8] “He committed his cause to the LORD; let him deliver him, let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

[9] Yet thou art he who took me from the womb; thou didst keep me safe upon my mother’s breasts.

[10] Upon thee was I cast from my birth, and since my mother bore me thou hast been my God.

[11] Be not far from me, for trouble is near and there is none to help.

[12] Many bulls encompass me, strong bulls of Bashan surround me;

[13] they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.

[14] I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax, it is melted within my breast;

[15] my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; thou dost lay me in the dust of death.

[16] Yea, dogs are round about me; a company of evildoers encircle me; they have pierced my hands and feet —

[17] I can count all my bones — they stare and gloat over me;

[18] they divide my garments among them, and for my raiment they cast lots.

EPISTLE. Philippians 2:5-11-5

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:  8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

GRADUAL. Ps. 73. Thou hast holden me by my right hand: thou shalt guide me with thy counsel: and after that receive me with glory. V. Truly God is loving unto Israel, even unto such as are of a clean heart: nevertheless, my feet were almost gone: my treadings had well-nigh slipt: and why? I was grieved at the wicked, I do also see the ungodly in such prosperity.

THE PASSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST ACCORDING TO MATTHEW.

Be Seated Until: “33 And when they were come unto a place called Golgotha, that is to say, a place of a skull”

OFFERTORY. Ps. 69. Thy rebuke hath broken my heart, I am full of heaviness: I looked for some to have pity on me, but there was no man: neither found I any to comfort me: they gave me gall to eat, and when I was thirsty they gave me vinegar to drink.