3 April, 2023 | Monday of Holy Week

 Gospel : Jn 12: 1-11

Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany,

where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.

They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served,

while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.

Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil

made from genuine aromatic nard

and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair;

the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples,

and the one who would betray him, said,

"Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages

and given to the poor?"

He said this not because he cared about the poor

but because he was a thief and held the money bag

and used to steal the contributions.

So Jesus said, "Leave her alone.

Let her keep this for the day of my burial.

You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."

The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came,

not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus,

whom he had raised from the dead.

And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too,

because many of the Jews were turning away

and believing in Jesus because of him.

Reflections

This is the same Mary who sits at the feet of Jesus while Martha is busy with her many tasks. Sitting at the feet of Jesus had strengthened her faith and love for him. Today she fragrances the feet of Jesus with ‘a pound of costly perfume.’ It is not just perfume, but her entire life is poured at the feet of Jesus without being affected by the ridicule of the crowd. What mattered to her was Jesus, who gave her life. Mary loves without reserve, while Judas calculates.

Mary’s love foreshadows Jesus’ love. She anoints the feet of Jesus, who will wash the feet of Disciples. She pours herself out on the One who will pour himself out on the world. His love will cost everything he has. He holds nothing back.

Activity : 

Sit before Jesus and deepen your faith and love for him as Mary did? Do something for Jesus today.