Reflection for Monday of Holy Week.

By

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Director, Social Action Movement, Don Bosco Bidar 

 Gospel Passage for today 


 John 12:1-11   

'She had to keep this scent for the day of my burial'

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 full of the scent of the ointment. Then Judas Iscariot – one of his disciples, the man who was to betray him – said, ‘Why wasn’t this ointment 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 contributions. So Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone; she had to keep this scent 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. 

 Reflection on the Readings 

To be called a perfectionist, it means that there are few connotations.

On the one hand, a perfectionist can be expected to deliver a near flawless piece of work, with every crack and gap and corner checked.

On the other hand, a perfectionist can come across as demanding and even oppressive.

So as much as a perfectionist is efficient and effective, it is always task-oriented.

Jesus is our Saviour. He came to save sinners from their sin. 

He came not to fulfill a task. He came to fulfill a mission.

The 1st reading describes the Saviour as such:

“He does not cry out or shout aloud, or makes his voice heard in the streets.

He does not break the crushed reed, nor quench the wavering flame.”

Jesus carried out His mission of salvation with love, mercy and compassion.

He did not agree with Judas for his criticism on Mary for what she did for Him.

May we learn from Jesus that the perfection that we need to strive for is the compassion for those who are crushed and wavering.


GOD BLESS YOU

Good morning. Have a nice day

Let's pray for the forthcoming state elections to be free and credible.