Gospel Reflection

March 25, 2013

Holy Monday – Year of Faith – Lenten Seasons

Holy Week

by Rev. Fr. Simplicio Pugasan, Jr. (Archdiocese of Cebu)

12:15PM Mass at Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace (Our Lady of EDSA)

                         

Reading 1 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.

Responsorial Psalm PS 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.

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 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.

HOMILY

Aside from Jesus, there are four characters in our Gospel today, whom we can make a reference to, as we reflect on how we should conduct ourselves for Easter Sunday. 

Obviously, Lazarus, newly raised from the dead, is spiritually and physically present during the visit of Jesus in Lazarus' house. And Lazarus, together with his sisters, Martha and Mary, welcomed Jesus. Martha serves, and Mary offers a gesture of hospitality to Jesus, as their way of thanking their beloved friend, Jesus, who has done great things to them. 

The highlight of the Gospel is Mary's gesture of welcoming Jesus. She welcomed Jesus without counting the cost of the perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard that she used to anoint the feet of Jesus. Aside from anointing Jesus' feet, Mary also dried Jesus' feet with her hair. 

Like Lazarus, Martha and Mary, let us always welcome Jesus. In this Lenten season, let us journey with Jesus. And in our daily lives, let us show how thankful we are to Jesus for the great things that He has done for us.