Daily Catholic Lectio. Mon, 25 March 2024. You do not always have me!

Daily Catholic Lectio

Monday, 25 March 2024

Monday of Holy Week

Isaiah 42:1-7. John 12:1-11

(The Solemnity of the Annunciation which we celebrate on 25 March is moved to 8 April this year on account of its occurrence during the Holy Week.)

You do not always have me!

‘Six days before Passover’ – thus begins today’s gospel readings. The apostle and evangelist John, who records ‘three days’ in the beginning of his gospel, records here about that which happened ‘six days’ before.

Jesus comes to the house of Martha-Mary-Lazarus at Bethany. Jesus’ visit to Bethany is recorded by Luke as well (cf. 10). Bethany, during the time of Jesus, was a village situated near the Judean desert, not far from Jerusalem. Jesus is temporally and spatially near Jerusalem, near the passion, and near the glory of the resurrection.

Three events occur in the gospel reading: Mary anoints Jesus’ feet, Jesus admonishes Judas, and the Jews reveal their hatred explicitly.

(a) Mary anoints Jesus’ feet

All four evangelists record the event of a woman anointing Jesus. John alone names the woman ‘Mary of Bethany.’ Though anointing was part of hospitality, Jesus interprets it as a sign representing his burial. Moreover, at times, I think Jesus might have been inspired to wash the feet of his disciples from this event.

(b) Jesus admonishes Judas

Judas knew the price of everything but did not know the value of anything. Judas makes a proposal that the oil could have been sold and given to the poor as charity. Judas, who knew that Jesus would be handed over soon, considers the anointing a waste of ‘money.’ Who would dare to spend an inheritance on a dying person?

(c) Hatred of the Jews

The Jews come to Bethany to see Jesus and Lazarus, whom he brought to life. They, in fact, wanted to kill Lazarus.

‘You do not always have me!’ – these words of Jesus tell us of his death.

Since Jesus is not going to be with us, let us take advantage of the present moment. On the flip side, let us ask, ‘Am I with Jesus?’ At times, our concern for the poor may be a distraction.

In the first reading, the Lord reveals the purpose of life to the suffering servant. The purpose of our lives is always in God’s hands.

Martha’s eyes were on Jesus’ hands, as she was serving him; Mary’s eyes were on Jesus’ feet, which she was anointing; Judas’ eyes were on Mary’s jar of oil to calculate its value; The Jews had their eyes on Lazarus, whom they wanted to kill; and Jesus’ eyes were on the cross.

May our eyes be on Jesus.

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy