REFLECTIONS TODAY
Today’s Gospel passage tells of the anointing of Jesus’ feet by Mary of Bethany. The anointing of Jesus’ feet is connected with the offering of Jesus’ life. Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with costly perfumed oil while Judas Iscariot entertains evil thoughts about what Mary has done for Jesus. The Gospel passage narrates that Judas Iscariot does not really care for the poor. He steals money from the money bag out of selfish interest. Jesus’ deed and that of Judas are opposites. Jesus offers his life for the salvation of the world while Judas steals in order to preserve himself and perpetuate his selfish interest. Jesus teaches us the value of self-sacrifice. Today is Holy Monday. We are called to deepen our sense of self-sacrifice that we may follow the example of Jesus who laid down his life for the life of the world.
Do we want to be free from selfishness? Are we ready to let go of our selfish interests? What are the concrete expressions of self-sacrifice that we are doing during these holy days?
First Reading • Is 42:1-7
Here is my servant whom I uphold my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my Spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, Not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching.
Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spreads out the earth with its crops, Who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk on it: I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.
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 Jesus, 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.
Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.