Monday of Holy Week
Lectionary: 257
Lectionary: 257
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.
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.
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.
R. (1a) The Lord is my light
and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
When evildoers come at me
to devour my flesh,
My foes and my enemies
themselves stumble and fall.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
Though war be waged upon me,
even then will I trust.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
When evildoers come at me
to devour my flesh,
My foes and my enemies
themselves stumble and fall.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
Though war be waged upon me,
even then will I trust.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Verse Before
The Gospel
Hail to you, our King;
you alone are compassionate with our faults.
you alone are compassionate with our faults.
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.”
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.
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.
Meditation:
Extravagant
love for Jesus
Do
you know the love that knows no bounds? As Jesus dines with his beloved
friends, Mary does something which only love can do. She took the most precious
thing she had and spent it all on Jesus. Her love was not calculated but
extravagant. Mary's action was motivated by one thing, and one thing only,
namely, her love for Jesus and her gratitude for God’s mercy. She did
something, however, a Jewish woman would never do in public. She loosed her
hair and anointed Jesus with her tears. It was customary for a woman on her
wedding day to bound her hair. For a married woman to loosen her hair in public
was a sign of grave immodesty. Mary was oblivious to all around her, except for
Jesus. She took no thought for what others would think, but what would please
her Lord. In humility she stooped to anoint Jesus' feet and to dry them with
her hair. How do you anoint the Lord's feet and show him your love and
gratitude?
Love
unbounded and poured out in gratitude
The Gospel of John records that the whole house was filled with the perfume of the ointment (John 12:3). What Mary had done brought sweetness not only in the physical sense, but the spiritual sense as well. Her lovely deed shows the extravagance of love - a love that we cannot outmatch. The Lord Jesus showed us the extravagance of his love in giving the best he had by pouring out his own blood for our sake and by anointing us with his Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul says that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39). Do you allow the love of Christ to rule in all your thoughts and intentions, and in all your words and deeds?
The Gospel of John records that the whole house was filled with the perfume of the ointment (John 12:3). What Mary had done brought sweetness not only in the physical sense, but the spiritual sense as well. Her lovely deed shows the extravagance of love - a love that we cannot outmatch. The Lord Jesus showed us the extravagance of his love in giving the best he had by pouring out his own blood for our sake and by anointing us with his Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul says that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39). Do you allow the love of Christ to rule in all your thoughts and intentions, and in all your words and deeds?
The
cost to the giver shows the true beauty and goodness of a heart filled with
love and gratitude
Why was Judas critical of Mary's lovely deed? Judas viewed her act as extravagant wastefulness because of greed. A person will view others according to what is inside their heart, mind, and soul - the inner core of their being. Judas was an embittered man and had a warped sense of what was precious and valuable, especially to God. Jesus had put Judas in charge of their common purse, very likely because he was gifted in financial matters. The greatest temptation we can face will often come in the area of our greatest strength or gifting. Judas used money entrusted to him for wrong and hurtful purposes. He allowed greed and personal gain to corrupt his heart and to warp his view of things. He was critical towards Mary because he imputed unworthy motives. Do you examine your heart correctly when you impute wrong or unworthy motives towards others?
Why was Judas critical of Mary's lovely deed? Judas viewed her act as extravagant wastefulness because of greed. A person will view others according to what is inside their heart, mind, and soul - the inner core of their being. Judas was an embittered man and had a warped sense of what was precious and valuable, especially to God. Jesus had put Judas in charge of their common purse, very likely because he was gifted in financial matters. The greatest temptation we can face will often come in the area of our greatest strength or gifting. Judas used money entrusted to him for wrong and hurtful purposes. He allowed greed and personal gain to corrupt his heart and to warp his view of things. He was critical towards Mary because he imputed unworthy motives. Do you examine your heart correctly when you impute wrong or unworthy motives towards others?
"Give
us, Lord, a lively faith, a firm hope, a fervent charity, a love of you. Take
from us all lukewarmness in meditation, dullness in prayer. Give us fervor and
delight in thinking of you and your grace, your tender compassion towards me.
The things we pray for, good Lord, give us grace to labor for: through Jesus
Christ our Lord." (Prayer of Sir Thomas More, 16th century)
A
Daily Quote for Lent: God
first loved us, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Fulfill
the commandments out of love. Could anyone refuse to love our God, so abounding
in mercy, so just in all His ways? Could anyone deny love to Him Who first
loved us despite all our injustice and all our pride? Could anyone refuse to
love God Who so loved us as to send His only Son not only to live among human
beings but also to be put to death for their sake and at their own
hands?." (excerpt from Catechetical Instructions 39)
MONDAY OF HOLY WEEK
MONDAY, APRIL 6, JOHN 12:1-11
(Isaiah 42:1-7; Psalm 27)
MONDAY, APRIL 6, JOHN 12:1-11
(Isaiah 42:1-7; Psalm 27)
KEY VERSE: "Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial" (v.7).
TO KNOW: After Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, he joined his friends Martha and Mary for a joyful celebration in Bethany (“House of Figs”). This would be his last visit with them, for Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem and his passion at Calvary. True to their unique natures, Martha helped with the serving and Mary knelt at Jesus’ feet to listen to his teaching. As he reclined at table, Mary anointed his feet with expensive oil (in Luke's gospel, the woman is a repentant sinner, 7:36-38). The house was filled with the fragrance of her generosity, but Judas saw this as an extravagant waste. He declared that the money could be better used for the poor. Jesus commended the woman's deed as an act of charity in preparation for his burial. While there would always be the poor, they would not always have Jesus with them.
TO LOVE: Is my devotion to the Lord reflected in my service to the poor?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, let my life be a sweet aroma to draw others to you.
NOTE: Nowhere in the gospels is Mary Magdalene named as a penitent sinner. Her name is first in the list of witnesses to Christ's resurrection (Mk 16:1-11; Mt 28:1; Lk 24:10; Jn 20:11-18; 1 Cor 15:5-8). Mary Magdalene is considered by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches to be a saint, the “Apostle to the Apostles.”
Monday 6 April 2020
Isaiah 42:1-7. The Lord is my light and my
salvation – Psalm 26(27):1-3, 13-14. John 12:1-11.
‘She had to keep this scent for the day of my burial’
Nard, an expensive oil with nourishing and antiseptic qualities,
produces an earthy fragrance. As Mary wipes Jesus’ feet with her hair, she is
also experiencing the cleansing, refreshing properties of the oil. The odour of
death is replaced with the fragrance of health and life in abundance.
Jesus accepts Mary’s generosity – his death will be the next
occasion for such gentle attention to his body. The ritual of preparing a body
is somewhat invisible in our society today, yet for many people, performing
this ritual for their deceased loved one provides peace and healing. It echoes
the intimacy of a baby’s first bath, held by sure and loving hands.
Our love for one another can be conveyed through soothing touch
in a way words cannot express. For there will be a time when we can speak no
more: when life meets death and our bodies welcome God’s great love, which is
the gentlest touch.
Saint Crescentia Hoess
Saint of the Day for April 6
(October 20, 1682 – April 5, 1744)
Saint Crescentia Hoess’ Story
Crescentia was born in 1682, the daughter of a poor weaver, in a
little town near Augsburg. She spent play time praying in the parish church,
assisted those even poorer than herself and had so mastered the truths of her
religion that she was permitted to make her first Holy
Communion at the then unusually early age of 7. In the town she was
called “the little angel.”
As she grew older, she desired to enter the convent of the
Tertiaries of Saint Francis. But the convent was poor, and because Crescentia
had no dowry, the superiors refused her admission. Her case was then pleaded by
the Protestant mayor of the town to whom the convent owed a favor. The
community felt it was forced into receiving her, and her new life was made
miserable. She was considered a burden and assigned nothing other than menial
tasks. Even her cheerful spirit was misinterpreted as flattery or hypocrisy.
Conditions improved four years later when a new superior was
elected who realized her virtue. Crescentia herself was appointed mistress of
novices. She so won the love and respect of the sisters that, upon the death of
the superior, Crescentia was unanimously elected to that position. Under her,
the financial state of the convent improved and her reputation in spiritual
matters spread. She was soon being consulted by princes and princesses; bishops
and cardinals too sought her advice. And yet, a true daughter of Francis, she
remained ever humble.
Bodily afflictions and pain were always with her. First it was
headaches and toothaches. Then she lost the ability to walk, her hands and feet
gradually becoming so crippled that her body curled up into a fetal position.
In the spirit of Francis she cried out, “Oh, you bodily members, praise God
that he has given you the capacity to suffer.” Despite her sufferings she was
filled with peace and joy as she died on Easter Sunday in 1744.
She was beatified in 1900 and canonized by Pope John Paul II in
2001. The Liturgical Feast Day for Saint Crescentia Hoess is April 5.
Reflection
Although she grew up in poverty and willingly embraced it in her
vocation, Crescentia had a good head for business. Under her able
administration, her convent regained financial stability. Too often, we think
of good money management as, at best, a less-than-holy gift. But Crescentia was
wise enough to balance her worldly skills with such acumen in spiritual matters
that heads of State and Church both sought her advice.
Lectio Divina: John 12:1-11
Lectio Divina
Monday, April 6, 2020
Season of Lent
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God,
You have called Your people
to be the servants of one another
in the cause of justice and mercy. You showed us in Jesus, Your Son,
what it means to serve
and how much this may cost us.
Fill us with the Spirit of Jesus,
that we too may not break those who are weak
nor repel those groping in the dark.
Let Him teach us to serve and to love
with compassion for the helpless
and respect for the least and the poorest,
together with Jesus Christ our Lord.
You have called Your people
to be the servants of one another
in the cause of justice and mercy. You showed us in Jesus, Your Son,
what it means to serve
and how much this may cost us.
Fill us with the Spirit of Jesus,
that we too may not break those who are weak
nor repel those groping in the dark.
Let Him teach us to serve and to love
with compassion for the helpless
and respect for the least and the poorest,
together with Jesus Christ our Lord.
2) Gospel Reading - John 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 spikenard 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.
3) Reflection
• We have entered into Holy Week, the week of the Passover of
Jesus, of His passing from this world to the Father (Jn 13:1). Liturgy today
places before us the beginning of chapter 12 of the Gospel of John, which
serves as a link between the Book of the Signs (cc 1-11) and the Book of the
Glorification (cc 13-21). At the end of the “Book of Signs” there appears, very
clearly, the tension between Jesus and the religious authority of the time (Jn
10:19-21.39) and the danger which Jesus was facing. Several times they had
tried to kill Him (Jn 10:31; 11:8. 53; 12,:10). It was such that Jesus was
obliged to lead a clandestine life, because He could be arrested at any moment
(Jn 10:40; 11:54).
• John 12:1-2: Jesus persecuted by the Jews, goes to Bethany. Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany to the house of His friends Martha and Mary and of Lazarus. Bethany means, House of Poverty. The police were looking for Him (Jn 11:57). They wanted to kill Him (Jn 11:50). But even now that the police were looking for Jesus, Mary, Martha and Lazarus received Him in their house and offered Him something to eat. Because love overcomes fear.
• John 12:3: Mary anoints Jesus. During the meal, Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with a pound of perfume of pure spikenard (cf. Lk 7:36-50). It was a very costly perfume, so very expensive that it cost three hundred denarii. Then she dried His feet with her hair. The whole house was filled with the scent of the ointment. Mary does not speak during this whole episode. She only acts. The gesture filled with symbolism speaks for itself. In washing the feet, Mary becomes a servant. Jesus will repeat the gesture at the Last Supper (Jn 13:5).
• John 12:4-6: Reaction of Judas. Judas criticizes the gesture of Mary. He thinks that it is a waste. In fact, three hundred denarii were the wages of three hundred days! The wages of almost a whole year spent in one time alone! Judas thinks that the money should have been given to the poor. The Evangelist comments and says that Judas had no concern at all for the poor, but that he was a thief. They had a common fund and he stole the money. A strong judgment which condemns Judas. It does not condemn the concern for the poor, but the hypocrisy which uses the poor for self promotion and to enrich oneself. Judas, in his own egoistic interests, thought only about money. This is why he was not aware of what Mary kept in her heart. Jesus reads the heart and defends Mary.
• John 12:7-8: Jesus defends the woman, Judas thinks only of the waste and criticizes the woman. Jesus thinks of the gesture and defends the woman: “Leave her alone; so that she can keep it for the day of My burial!” And immediately Jesus says: “You have the poor with you always; you will not always have Me!” Which of the two lived closer to Jesus: Judas or Mary? Judas, the disciple, lived together with Jesus for almost three years, twenty-four hours a day. He was part of the group. Mary saw Him once or twice a year, on the occasion of some feast, when Jesus went to Jerusalem and visited her in her house. But to live together with, not having any love does not help us to know others. Rather it blinds people. Judas was blind. Many people live together with Jesus and praise Him even with many hymns, but do not truly know Him and do not reveal Him (cf. Mt 7:21). Two affirmations of Jesus merit a more detailed comment: (a) “You have the poor with you always” and (b) “let her keep it for the day of My burial”.
(a) “You have the poor with you always “. Is it perhaps that Jesus wants to say that we should not be concerned about the poor, given the fact that there will always be poor? Or does He want to say that poverty is the destiny imposed by God? How is this phrase to be understood? At that time, people knew the Old Testament by heart. It sufficed for Jesus to begin quoting a phrase of the Old Testament and persons already knew the rest. The beginning of the phrase said: “There will never cease to be poor people in the country” (Dt 15:11ª). The rest of the phrase which people already knew and which Jesus wants to remind is the following: “And this is why I am giving you this command: always be open handed with your brother, and with anyone in your country who is in need and is poor!” (Dt 15:11b). According to this Law, the community should accept the poor and share its goods with them. But, Judas instead of “opening his hand to help the poor” and to share his goods with them, wanted to do charity with the money of others! He wanted to sell the perfume of Mary for three hundred denarii and use it to help the poor. Jesus quotes the Law of God which taught the contrary. Anyone, who like Judas, carries out a campaign with the money from the sale of the goods of another, does not disturb or trouble. But, the one who, like Jesus, insists on the obligation to accept the poor and to share with them one’s own goods, this one disturbs, troubles and runs the risk of being condemned.
(b) John 12:9-11: The crowds and the authority. To be the friend of Jesus could be dangerous. Lazarus is in danger of death because of the new life received from Jesus. The Jews had decided to kill Him. Lazarus alive was a living proof that Jesus was the Messiah. This is why the crowd was looking for Him, because people wanted to experience closely the living proof of the power of Jesus. A living community runs the risk of its life because it is the living proof of the Good News of God!
• John 12:1-2: Jesus persecuted by the Jews, goes to Bethany. Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany to the house of His friends Martha and Mary and of Lazarus. Bethany means, House of Poverty. The police were looking for Him (Jn 11:57). They wanted to kill Him (Jn 11:50). But even now that the police were looking for Jesus, Mary, Martha and Lazarus received Him in their house and offered Him something to eat. Because love overcomes fear.
• John 12:3: Mary anoints Jesus. During the meal, Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with a pound of perfume of pure spikenard (cf. Lk 7:36-50). It was a very costly perfume, so very expensive that it cost three hundred denarii. Then she dried His feet with her hair. The whole house was filled with the scent of the ointment. Mary does not speak during this whole episode. She only acts. The gesture filled with symbolism speaks for itself. In washing the feet, Mary becomes a servant. Jesus will repeat the gesture at the Last Supper (Jn 13:5).
• John 12:4-6: Reaction of Judas. Judas criticizes the gesture of Mary. He thinks that it is a waste. In fact, three hundred denarii were the wages of three hundred days! The wages of almost a whole year spent in one time alone! Judas thinks that the money should have been given to the poor. The Evangelist comments and says that Judas had no concern at all for the poor, but that he was a thief. They had a common fund and he stole the money. A strong judgment which condemns Judas. It does not condemn the concern for the poor, but the hypocrisy which uses the poor for self promotion and to enrich oneself. Judas, in his own egoistic interests, thought only about money. This is why he was not aware of what Mary kept in her heart. Jesus reads the heart and defends Mary.
• John 12:7-8: Jesus defends the woman, Judas thinks only of the waste and criticizes the woman. Jesus thinks of the gesture and defends the woman: “Leave her alone; so that she can keep it for the day of My burial!” And immediately Jesus says: “You have the poor with you always; you will not always have Me!” Which of the two lived closer to Jesus: Judas or Mary? Judas, the disciple, lived together with Jesus for almost three years, twenty-four hours a day. He was part of the group. Mary saw Him once or twice a year, on the occasion of some feast, when Jesus went to Jerusalem and visited her in her house. But to live together with, not having any love does not help us to know others. Rather it blinds people. Judas was blind. Many people live together with Jesus and praise Him even with many hymns, but do not truly know Him and do not reveal Him (cf. Mt 7:21). Two affirmations of Jesus merit a more detailed comment: (a) “You have the poor with you always” and (b) “let her keep it for the day of My burial”.
(a) “You have the poor with you always “. Is it perhaps that Jesus wants to say that we should not be concerned about the poor, given the fact that there will always be poor? Or does He want to say that poverty is the destiny imposed by God? How is this phrase to be understood? At that time, people knew the Old Testament by heart. It sufficed for Jesus to begin quoting a phrase of the Old Testament and persons already knew the rest. The beginning of the phrase said: “There will never cease to be poor people in the country” (Dt 15:11ª). The rest of the phrase which people already knew and which Jesus wants to remind is the following: “And this is why I am giving you this command: always be open handed with your brother, and with anyone in your country who is in need and is poor!” (Dt 15:11b). According to this Law, the community should accept the poor and share its goods with them. But, Judas instead of “opening his hand to help the poor” and to share his goods with them, wanted to do charity with the money of others! He wanted to sell the perfume of Mary for three hundred denarii and use it to help the poor. Jesus quotes the Law of God which taught the contrary. Anyone, who like Judas, carries out a campaign with the money from the sale of the goods of another, does not disturb or trouble. But, the one who, like Jesus, insists on the obligation to accept the poor and to share with them one’s own goods, this one disturbs, troubles and runs the risk of being condemned.
(b) John 12:9-11: The crowds and the authority. To be the friend of Jesus could be dangerous. Lazarus is in danger of death because of the new life received from Jesus. The Jews had decided to kill Him. Lazarus alive was a living proof that Jesus was the Messiah. This is why the crowd was looking for Him, because people wanted to experience closely the living proof of the power of Jesus. A living community runs the risk of its life because it is the living proof of the Good News of God!
4) Personal questions
• Mary was misinterpreted by Judas. Have you been misinterpreted
sometimes?
• Do I actually serve the poor, or do I just share the goods of others?
• Are lavish expenses on church buildings and decorations a case of worshiping Jesus as Mary did, or is taking from the poor?
• Do I actually serve the poor, or do I just share the goods of others?
• Are lavish expenses on church buildings and decorations a case of worshiping Jesus as Mary did, or is taking from the poor?
5) Concluding Prayer
Yahweh is my light and my salvation,
whom should I fear?
Yahweh is the fortress of my life,
whom should I dread? (Ps 27:1)
whom should I fear?
Yahweh is the fortress of my life,
whom should I dread? (Ps 27:1)
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