Gospel: March 25, 2024

(Monday)

Monday of Holy Week

Psalter: Week 2 / (Violet)

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 27: 1, 2, 3, 13-14

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

1st Reading: Isaiah 42: 1-7Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight.

I have put my spirit upon him, and he will bring justice to the nations.

He does not shout or raise his voice. Proclamations are not heard in the streets.

A broken reed he will not crush, nor will he snuff out the light of the wavering wick.

He will make justice appear in truth.

He will not waver or be broken until he has established justice on earth; the islands are waiting for his law.

Thus says God, Yahweh, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread the earth and all that comes from it, who gives life and breath to those who walk on it:

I, Yahweh, have called you for the sake of justice; I will hold your hand to make you firm;

I will make you as a Covenant to the people, and as a light to the nations, to open eyes that do not see, to free captives from prison, to bring out to light those who sit in darkness.

Gospel: John 12: 1-11Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where he had raised Lazarus, the dead man, to life. Now they gave a dinner for him, and while Martha waited on them, Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus.

Then Mary took a pound of costly perfume, made from genuine spikenard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair. And the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Judas Iscariot—the disciple who was to betray Jesus—remarked, “This perfume could have been sold for 300 silver coins, and the money given to the poor.” Judas, indeed, had no concern for the poor; he was a thief, and as he held the common purse, he used to help himself to the funds.

But Jesus spoke up, “Leave her alone. Was she not keeping it for the day of my burial? (The poor you always have with you, but you will not always have me.)”

Many Jews heard that Jesus was there and they came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests thought about killing Lazarus as well, for many of the Jews were drifting away because of him, and believing in Jesus.

Reflection:“Self-sacrifice”

Today is Holy Monday. The Gospel for today narrates Jesus’ feet being anointed by Mary of Bethany. It was in a context of a dinner offered by Lazarus, the brother of Martha and Mary, whom Jesus raised back to life. Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with expensive perfume while Judas Iscariot was harboring ill thoughts about what Mary did for Jesus. The narration makes it clear that Judas, the betrayer, had no real concern for the poor. He was a thief and was taking money from the common purse for his own selfish benefit. The deed of Judas runs in contrast with the deed of Jesus. Jesus would be offering his life for the salvation of the world while Judas took from what was not his to preserve himself. Our present world is characterized by selfishness. Many would give in to the temptation of self-preservation at the expense of other people. As Jesus’ followers, we are challenged to turn away from selfishness, overcoming the temptation of self-preservation at other people’s expense. Jesus taught us the value of self-sacrifice. Let us not follow Judas’ way.