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.
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.
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.
Responsorial PsalmPS 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14
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.
GospelJN 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.
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.
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?
The gospel records that the whole house was filled with
the perfume of the ointment. 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?
Why was Judas critical of Mary's lovely deed? Judas viewed her
act as extravagant wastefulness because of greed. A person views things
according to what it inside the heart and soul. 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, no doubt 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)
 Blind Guides |
|
March 30, 2015.
Monday of Holy Week
|
|
By Father James Swanson, LC 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 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.
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, I wish to accompany you closely
on the road to Calvary. If I were to contemplate you more often as you
hang scourged and bloody upon the cross, I’m certain I would be able to rest
in your love and base my actions on that one truth. I know that you have
loved me with an eternal love: you have proven it there on the wood of the
cross. So I long to respond with gratitude, peace and the firm determination
to spread your love to everyone.
Petition: Lord, grant me faith in your promise
to raise everyone from the dead.
1. A Willful Blindness: Jesus produces one of his most convincing
miracles – a sure sign that God sent him: He raises someone from the dead.
The chief priests cannot deny this. The deed was not done far away in
Galilee. Jesus is right there, in Bethany, just outside Jerusalem. Lazarus is
there too. Anyone who wants to see can travel the short distance from Jerusalem,
over the Mount of Olives, and visit with Jesus and Lazarus. The chief
priests, rather than give in and accept Jesus as the Messiah, reject him.
Their rejection is complete. They should be able to see that Jesus’ miracle
is obviously an act of God’s divine power, but they refuse to accept it. They
can think of no way to convince people that he is not the Messiah except to
kill both Jesus and Lazarus. Sometimes mere association with Jesus can bring
about costly consequences. How ironic it would have been to be killed for the
“crime” of being raised from the dead…
2. Harden Not Your Hearts: Logically, if anyone is to accept Jesus as
Messiah, it should be the chief priests, scribes and Pharisees. They are the
ones who know Scripture the best. They are the ones who are supposed to be on
the lookout for the Messiah. By now they should realize that Jesus is doing
everything that the Messiah is supposed to do. Yet with only a few exceptions
(Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea), they fail to acknowledge him as Messiah.
God’s ways are not our ways. God’s plans and actions remain impenetrable to
the rationalistic mind that demands scientific-like proofs even in the
spiritual realm. Hardness of heart makes us see the good works of others as
evil. Do I seek to attune my mind and my heart to God’s ways or do I demand
reasons from him? Often times the cross in our lives does not make sense.
However, we will one day understand it by first accepting and carrying it.
3. Pride and Envy Can be Our Downfall: The Pharisees’ problem is pride. They think
they’ve got everything figured out. They think (because they don’t want it to
be true) that Jesus cannot be the Messiah. He doesn’t fulfill their
expectations and they are not prepared to change – to examine themselves to
see if they might be wrong. They are so sure they have it all figured out
that they overlook all that Jesus does to fulfill Scripture. They go even so
far as to overlook his having raised Lazarus from the dead! They clutch at
any feeble excuse to discredit him: “If this man were a prophet, he would
know what kind of woman is touching him” (Luke 7:39); “Search and you will
see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee” (John 7:52). God doesn’t
conform himself to our plans and ideas. He expects us to conform to his.
Conversation with Christ: Lord Jesus, faith comes so hard to me.
I should be aware of all the good you have worked in my life. Help me
to look with the eyes of faith that will bring me to an unshakeable
belief in you, a faith like that of those who witnessed your raising of
Lazarus.
Resolution: Today, I will look back briefly on my life
and try to notice all the things Christ has done for me, so that by
reflecting on these things my faith and trust in him will deepen.
|
MONDAY OF HOLY WEEK, MARCH 30; JOHN 12:1-11
(Isaiah 42:1-7; Psalm 27)
(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 of life 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 the feet of her friend Jesus. As Jesus reclined at table, Mary anointed his feet with expensive oil (in Luke's gospel, the woman is a penitent 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. In the Bible, 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 30 March 2015
Monday in Holy Week.
Isaiah 42:1-7. The Lord is my light and my salvation—Ps 26(27):1-3, 13-14. John 12:1-11.
Isaiah 42:1-7. The Lord is my light and my salvation—Ps 26(27):1-3, 13-14. John 12:1-11.
Lord, my prayer is for
myself and for others.
I need to be freed from
using categories such as ‘wasteful’ and ‘useful’; others from categories such
as ‘prisoner’ or ‘orphan’. Categories can block us off from each other. Yet,
Lord, though I may not be a prisoner or an orphan, I too am deprived in many
ways. Sometimes, because I have been deprived, I cling to what I have, judge
others quickly, or retreat from the calls made upon me by others.
If I let you remind me that,
as you made the stars, so you formed me, then I can open my hands to the
captive, the lonely, and those in darkness, and receive from them.
Lord, may I know my
deprivation, and may I not be afraid to receive from others. Let me be a
witness of your Good News.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
Jesus's Greatest Gift
|
Father, Jesus offered us the greatest gift he could–Himself as the
food for ourselves–and the people's rejection of that gift broke His heart. Yet
many Christians do the same thing today by reducing the gift of Christ’s body
and blood to near symbolism. Father, help us to understand and accept Jesus as
He is and never let us be a disappointment to Him! We ask this in His name,
Amen.
March
30
St. Peter Regalado
(1390-1456)
St. Peter Regalado
(1390-1456)
Peter lived at a very busy time in history. The Great Western
Schism (1378-1417) was settled at the Council of Constance (1414-1418). France
and England were fighting the Hundred Years’ War, and in 1453 the Byzantine
Empire was completely wiped out by the loss of Constantinople to the Turks. At
Peter’s death the age of printing had just begun in Germany, and Columbus's
arrival in the New World was less than 40 years away.
Peter
came from a wealthy and pious family in Valladolid, Spain. At the age of 13, he
was allowed to enter the Conventual Franciscans. Shortly after his ordination,
he was made superior of the friary in Aguilar. He became part of a group of
friars who wanted to lead a life of greater poverty and penance. In 1442 he was
appointed head of all the Spanish Franciscans in his reform group.
Peter led
the friars by his example. A special love of the poor and the sick
characterized Peter. Miraculous stories are told about his charity to the poor.
For example, the bread never seemed to run out as long as Peter had hungry
people to feed. Throughout most of his life, Peter went hungry; he lived only
on bread and water.
Immediately
after his death on March 31, 1456, his grave became a place of pilgrimage.
Peter was canonized in 1746.
Comment:
Peter was an effective leader of the friars because he did not become ensnared in anger over the sins of others. Peter helped sinning friars rearrange the priorities in their lives and dedicate themselves to living the gospel of Jesus Christ as they had vowed. This patient correction is an act of charity available to all Franciscans, not just to superiors.
Peter was an effective leader of the friars because he did not become ensnared in anger over the sins of others. Peter helped sinning friars rearrange the priorities in their lives and dedicate themselves to living the gospel of Jesus Christ as they had vowed. This patient correction is an act of charity available to all Franciscans, not just to superiors.
Quote:
"And let all the brothers, both the ministers and servants as well as the others, take care not to be disturbed or angered at the sin or the evil of another, because the devil wishes to destroy many through the fault of one; but they should spiritually help [the brother] who has sinned as best they can, because it is not the healthy who are in need of the physician, but those who are sick (cf. Mt 9:12; Mk 2:17)" (Rule of 1221, Chapter 5).
"And let all the brothers, both the ministers and servants as well as the others, take care not to be disturbed or angered at the sin or the evil of another, because the devil wishes to destroy many through the fault of one; but they should spiritually help [the brother] who has sinned as best they can, because it is not the healthy who are in need of the physician, but those who are sick (cf. Mt 9:12; Mk 2:17)" (Rule of 1221, Chapter 5).
LECTIO DIVINA:
JOHN 12,1-11
Lectio:
Monday, March 30, 2015
Lent Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord our God,
you have called your people
to be the servant 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 servant 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 the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where
Lazarus was, whom he had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him
there; Martha waited on them and Lazarus was among those at table. Mary brought
in a pound of very costly ointment, pure nard, and with it anointed the feet of
Jesus, wiping them with her hair; the house was filled with the scent of the
ointment.
Then Judas Iscariot -- one of his disciples, the man who was to betray him-said, 'Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?'
He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he was in charge of the common fund and used to help himself to the contents. So Jesus said, 'Leave her alone; let her keep it for the day of my burial. You have the poor with you always, you will not always have me.'
Meanwhile a large number of Jews heard that he was there and came not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. Then the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus as well, since it was on his account that many of the Jews were leaving them and believing in Jesus.
Then Judas Iscariot -- one of his disciples, the man who was to betray him-said, 'Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?'
He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he was in charge of the common fund and used to help himself to the contents. So Jesus said, 'Leave her alone; let her keep it for the day of my burial. You have the poor with you always, you will not always have me.'
Meanwhile a large number of Jews heard that he was there and came not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. Then the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus as well, since it was on his account that many of the Jews were leaving them and believing in Jesus.
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). So much it was like this 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 was looking for him (Jn 11, 57). They wanted to kill him (Jn 11, 50). But even now that the police was 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 in 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, persons 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 of the sale of the goods of other 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 was looking for him (Jn 11, 57). They wanted to kill him (Jn 11, 50). But even now that the police was 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 in 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, persons 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 of the sale of the goods of other 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?
• What does this text of Mary teach us? What does the reaction of Judas say to us?
• What does this text of Mary teach us? What does the reaction of Judas say to us?
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)
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét