Lenten Meditation 2017

Monday of Holy Week

Reading 1 Is 42:1-7
Gospel Jn 12:1-11

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.”

Meditation:
A call to serve, a call to feast, a call to adore, a call to betray, a call to kill. How is it all these can circulate around the person of one man at the same time? It did as it still does when that person is Jesus the Christ.

My head swirls and my heart sorrows as I heard about the bomb explosions in the Coptic Churches in Egypt. The victims came to serve, to feast, to adore while others came to betray and kill; all this still over 2000 years later. Let us lift up our Christian brethren in prayer, may they rest in peace.
This is Holy Week and death is prominent in the story but not central. It is Holy not only because Jesus dies but because He Rises! In "dying he destroyed our death, in rising he restored our life".

'O come let us adore him' is a call for Christians all year around not just at Christmas. In the face of threats, turmoil and anxiety can we assume the posture of Mary of Bethany and perform the work of a slave at Jesus feet in a loving act of submission and adoration? Didn't Jesus do the same for us and tell us to do so as well? (Hint: pay attention on Holy Thursday)

Who are we in this story today: Martha always ready to serve, Lazarus reborn, Mary in humble adoration, Judas in blind indignation, or worse those with only murderous intent in our hearts for God and our neighbor?
How is it all these can circulate around the person of one man at the same time? It did as it still does when that person is Jesus the Christ.
​
Peace.