Mill-Evanġelju skont San Mark (Mk 11:1-10)

From the Gospel of St Mark (Mk 11:1-10)

Marru, u sabu felu marbut ħdejn bieb barra fit-triq; u ħallewh. Xi wħud minn dawk li kienu hemm qalulhom: “X’intom tħolluh tagħmlu dak il-felu?”. Huma weġbuhom kif kien qalilhom Ġesù, u dawk ħallewhom jagħmlu.

Ħadu l-felu lil Ġesù, qiegħdu l-imnatar tagħhom fuq il-felu, u Ġesù rikeb fuqu. U bosta nies firxu fit-triq l-imnatar tagħhom, u oħrajn xi friegħi ħodor li kienu qatgħu mill-għelieqi. U kemm dawk li kienu miexja quddiem u kemm dawk li kienu miexja wara, bdew jgħajtu: “Hosanna! Imbierek min ġej f’isem il-Mulej! Imbierka s-Saltna li ġejja ta’ David missierna. Hosanna fl-ogħla tas-smewwiet!”.

They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it.

Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields.
Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

Mill-Evanġelju skond San Ġwann (Ġw 13:1-15)

From the Gospel of St John (Jn 13:1-15)

Kienu qegħdin għall-ikel. Ix-Xitan kien ġa webbel lil Ġuda ta’ Xmun l-Iskarjota u daħħallu f’rasu li jittradih. Ġesù kien jaf li l-Missier tah kollox f’idejh, u li hu kien ġie mingħand Alla u kien sejjer għand Alla. Qam minn fuq il-mejda, neħħa l-mantar minn fuqu, ħa fardal u rabtu ma’ qaddu. Imbagħad ferra’ l-ilma fil-lenbija, u beda jaħsel saqajn id-dixxipli u jixxuttahomlhom bil-fardal li kellu ma’ qaddu.

Mela wasal fuq Xmun Pietru, u dan qallu: “Int, Mulej, taħsilli saqajja?”. Ġesù wieġbu: “Int għalissa ma tafx x’qiegħed nagħmel jien; tifhmu aktar ’il quddiem”. Qallu Pietru: “Ma jkun qatt li inti taħsilli saqajja!”. Wieġbu Ġesù: “Jekk ma naħsillekx saqajk, ma jkollokx x’taqsam miegħi”. Qallu Xmun Pietru: “Mulej, mhux saqajja biss, imma jdejja u rasi wkoll”. Qallu Ġesù: “Min hu maħsul, ma għandux għalfejn jinħasel kollu, ħlief saqajh, għax hu kollu kemm hu nadif, u intom indaf, imma mhux ilkoll”. Għax hu kien jaf min kien sejjer jittradih; għalhekk qal: “M’intomx ilkoll indaf”.

Wara li ħaslilhom saqajhom, libes il-mantar u raġa’ qagħad fuq il-mejda; u qalilhom: “Tafu x’għamiltilkom? Intom issejħuli l-Imgħallem u l-Mulej, u tgħidu sewwa, għax hekk jien. Mela jekk jien, li jien il-Mulej u l-Imgħallem ħsiltilkom saqajkom, hekk intom għandkom taħslu saqajn xulxin. Għax jien tajtkom eżempju, biex kif għamilt jien magħkom, hekk tagħmlu intom ukoll”.

The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord–and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

Mill-Passjoni ta’ Sidna Ġesù Kristu skond San Ġwann

From the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to St John

Huma weġbuh:  “Lil Ġesù ta’ Nazaret”.

U hu qalilhom: “Jiena hu”.

Ġuda, dak li ttradieh, kien hemm magħhom huwa wkoll. Kif Ġesù qalilhom: “Jiena hu”, huma resqu lura u waqgħu mal-art.

“Lil min qegħdin tfittxu?”. Raġa’ staqsiehom. U huma qalulu: “Lil Ġesù ta’ Nazaret”.

Ġesù weġibhom: “Għedtilkom li jiena hu. Jekk qegħdin tfittxu lili, ħallu lil dawn imorru”.

Dan sar biex iseħħ dak li Ġesù kien qal: “Minn dawk li tajtni, anqas wieħed biss ma tlift”. Xmun Pietru kellu sejf, siltu, u darab lill-qaddej tal-qassis il-kbir u qatagħlu barra widintu l-leminija. Dan il-qaddej kien jismu Malku.

Imma Ġesù qal lil Pietru: “Erġa’ daħħal is-sejf fl-għant tiegħu. Forsi l-kalċi li tani Missieri ma nixorbux?”.

Imbagħad is-suldati u l-kaptan tagħhom flimkien mal-għases tal-Lhud, qabdu lil Ġesù u rabtuh. L-ewwel ħaduh għand Anna, billi dan kien missier il-mara ta’ Kajfa, il-qassis il-kbir f’dik is-sena. Kajfa kien dak li ta parir lil-Lhud: “Ikun jaqbel li bniedem wieħed imut għall-poplu”.

They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus replied, “I am he.”

Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground.

Again he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.”

This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, “I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus.

Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people.

U huma weġbuh: “Li kieku dan ma kienx raġel ħażin aħna ma konniex nagħtuh f’idejk”.

Pilatu qalilhom: “Ħuduh intom, u ġġudikawh intom skond il-liġi tagħkom”.

Imma l-Lhud qalulu: “Aħna ma għandna setgħa noqtlu lil ħadd”.

Dan ġara biex iseħħ dak li Ġesù kien qal meta fisser kif kellu jmut.

Pilatu raġa’ daħal fil-Pretorju, sejjaħ lil Ġesù u qallu: “Inti s-sultan tal-Lhud?”.

Ġesù wieġeb: “Dan qiegħed tgħidu int minn moħħok? Jew kienu oħrajn li qalulek dan fuqi?”.

Pilatu wieġeb: “Mela jiena Lhudi? Kien il-poplu tiegħek u l-qassisin il-kbar li tawk f’idejja. X’għamilt?”.

Ġesù wieġeb: “Is-saltna tiegħi mhijiex ta’ din id-dinja. Li kieku saltnati kienet ta’ din id-dinja, l-għases tiegħi kienu jiġġieldu biex ma ningħatax f’idejn il-Lhud; imma tabilħaqq saltnati mhijiex ta’ hawn”.

Pilatu qallu: “Mela int sultan?”.

U Ġesù wieġeb: “Int qiegħed tgħidu; jien sultan. Jien għalhekk twelidt, u għalhekk ġejt fid-dinja, biex nixhed għall-verità. U kull min iħobb il-verità jisma’ leħni”.

Pilatu qallu: “U l-verità x’inhi?”.

Kif qal dan, raġa’ ħareġ quddiem il-Lhud u qalilhom: “Jiena ma nsib ebda ħtija fih. Issa intom għandkom id-drawwa li neħilsilkom wieħed fil-Għid. Tridunix neħilsilkom lis-sultan tal-Lhud?”.

Hawn huma mill-ġdid bdew jgħajtu u jgħidu: “Mhux lil dan, imma lil Barabba”.

Dan Barabba kien brigant. Imbagħad Pilatu ordna li jieħdu lil Ġesù u jagħtuh is-swat. Is-suldati nisġu kuruna tax-xewk u qegħduhielu fuq rasu, u libbsuh mantar aħmar skur. U bdew ġejjin quddiemu u jgħidulu: “Is-sliem għalik, ja sultan tal-Lhud!”. U bdew jagħtuh bil-ħarta.

Għal darb’oħra Pilatu ħareġ barra jgħidilhom: “Araw, se nġibhulkom quddiemkom hawn barra, biex tkunu tafu li jiena ma nsib ebda ħtija fih”. U Ġesù ħareġ hemm barra, liebes il-kuruna tax-xewk u l-mantar aħmar; u Pilatu qalilhom: “Arawh, hawn hu l-bniedem!”.

Xħin rawh, il-qassisin il-kbar u l-għases bdew jgħajtu u jgħidu: “Sallbu! Sallbu!”.

They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.”

Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.”

This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.

Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?”

Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?”

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”

Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?”

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”

Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”

They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but Barabbas!”

Now Barabbas was a bandit. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face.

Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!

Il-Lhud weġbuh: “Aħna għandna liġi, u skond din il-liġi għandu jmut, għax għamel lilu nnifsu Bin Alla”.

Meta sama’ dan, Pilatu aktar baża’. Raġa’ daħal fil-Pretorju u qal lil Ġesù: “Int mnejn int?”.

Imma Ġesù ma wieġbu xejn. Għalhekk Pilatu qallu: “Lili ma tkellimx? Ma tafx li jiena għandi s-setgħa neħilsek u għandi s-setgħa nsallbek?”.

Ġesù wieġbu: “Ma kien ikollok ebda setgħa fuqi kieku ma ġietx mogħtija lilek minn fuq; għalhekk min ta lili f’idejk għandu ħtija akbar”.

Minn dak il-ħin ’il quddiem Pilatu beda jfittex kif jeħilsu; imma l-Lhud issuktaw jgħajtu u jgħidu: “Jekk teħles lil dan, tiksirha ma’ Ċesari, għax kull min jagħmel lilu nnifsu sultan ikun qiegħed jeħodha kontra Ċesari”.

Meta semagħhom jgħidu dan, Pilatu ġieb lil Ġesù barra u qiegħdu fuq sedja għolja, fil-post imsejjaħ Litòstrotos, bil-Lhudi Gabbatà. Kien Jum it-Tħejjija tal-Għid, għall-ħabta tas-sitt siegħa. Pilatu qal lil-Lhud: “Arawh is-sultan tagħkom!”.

Dawk infexxew jgħajtu: “Għall-mewt! Għall-mewt! Sallbu!”.

Pilatu qalilhom: “Jien se nsallab lis-sultan tagħkom?”.

Imma l-qassisin il-kbar weġbuh: “Aħna ma għandniex sultan ħlief lil Ċesari!”.

Fl-aħħar tahulhom f’idejhom biex isallbuh. U huma ħadu lil Ġesù.

The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.”

Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?”

But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?”

Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.”

When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!”

They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!”

Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.”

Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus;

Pilatu wieġeb: “Issa li ktibt ktibt!”.

Wara li sallbu lil Ġesù, is-suldati ħadu l-ilbies tiegħu u qassmuh f’erbgħa, sehem lil kull wieħed minnhom. U ħadu wkoll it-tunika; din kienet libsa bla ħjata, minsuġa biċċa waħda minn fuq s’isfel. Ftiehmu bejniethom u qalu: “Ma nqattgħuhiex, iżda nitfgħu x-xorti għaliha, u lil min tmiss jeħodha”. Dan ġara biex isseħħ l-Iskrittura li tgħid: “Ħwejġi qasmu bejniethom, u għall-ilbies tiegħi tefgħu x-xorti”. U dan tabilħaqq għamluh is-suldati. […]

Wara dan, Ġesù, billi issa kien jaf li kollox kien mitmum, biex isseħħ l-Iskrittura qal: “Għandi l-għatx!”.

Kien hemm bieqja mimlija bil-ħall; huma xarrbu sponża il-ħall, waħħluha ma’ qasba tal-issopu, u ressquhielu lejn ħalqu. Kif Ġesù ħa l-ħall, qal: “Kollox hu mitmum!”.

Imbagħad mejjel rasu u radd ruħu.

Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says, “They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.” And that is what the soldiers did. […]

After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.”

A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.”

Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Imbagħad qal lid-dixxiplu:“Hawn hi ommok”.

U minn dak il-ħin id-dixxiplu ħadha għandu.

Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”

And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

Letter of St Paul Appostle to the Romans

Dan nafu: li l-bniedem il-qadim tagħna ssallab miegħu, biex jinqered dan il-ġisem tad-dnub, sabiex ma nkunux aktar ilsiera tad-dnub. Min imut, jeħles mid-dnub. Jekk aħna mitna ma’ Kristu, nemmnu wkoll li għad ngħixu ma’ Kristu. Nafu li Kristu qam mill-imwiet u ma jmutx aktar; il-mewt ma għadhiex taħkem fuqu. Hu li miet, miet darba għal dejjem għad-dnub; u issa li qiegħed jgħix, qiegħed jgħix għal Alla. Hekk ukoll intom għandkom tqisu lilkom infuskom mejtin għad-dnub, iżda ħajjin għal Alla fi Kristu Ġesù.

We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.