First Reading
Reading from the book of Isaiah
Isaiah 50:4-9
At that time, Isaiah said:
“The Lord has given me a well-trained tongue,
that I may know how to answer the weary
with a word of encouragement.
Morning after morning he wakens my ear,
to hear as disciples do.
The Lord God has opened my ear;
and I did not refuse,
nor did I turn away.
I gave my back to those who beat me,
my cheeks to those who tore out my beard;
my face I did not shield
from insults and spitting.
The Lord God is my help,
therefore I am not disgraced;
therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I know I shall not be put to shame.
Near is the one who upholds my justice;
who will contend with me?
Let him confront me.
See, the Lord God is my help;
who will declare me guilty?”
Gospel
Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew
Matthew 26:14-25
At that time, one of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said to them, “What will you give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver, and from that time on he looked for an opportunity to hand him over.
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover?” He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The teacher says, My appointed time draws near. In your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples.’” The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.
When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, “Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” Deeply distressed at this, they began to say to him one after another, “Surely it is not I, Lord?” He said in reply, “He who has dipped his hand into the dish with me is the one who will betray me. The Son of Man indeed goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed. It would be better for that man if he had never been born.” Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He answered, “You have said so.”