Gospel: 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 300 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.
Reflection
To be at a dinner with Our Lord would be an experience in itself, but to be there with Him days before his death, would be even more incredible.
Mary did not hold back, she gave her best, her all, to him. She was chastised for this but Jesus “had her back.” He told Judas to back off and let her serve him.
We all try to serve the Lord and “give back”, but do we give him “our best?” Are we pre-occupied with all our “stuff” that we don’t notice what is going on around us — with our friends, our families, ourselves?
In the final days of this Lent, help us to stand up for what we know is right and to always give our best and not hold back.
Associate Michelle Barrie, St. Patrick Church, Kankakee, 2010, 2011, 2012 Viatorian Youth Congress Delegate Leader
- Being Viatorian is a gift that I have been given. Being able to serve and help others and know that there is a family in many parts of the world doing the same thing, is amazing! We do not walk this journey alone!
- One thing I will be focusing on this Lent is trying to spend extra time in prayer and reflection.