From the responsorial psalm: “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. The Lord is my light and my salvation.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (Jn 12:1-11, today’s readings)
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.
Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead. Because of this, more and more people come to believe in him as they come to see him and to hear the story. When Jesus is invited to the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, Mary uses a liter of expensive oil to anoint the feet of Jesus. Like incense, the odor of the oil fills the entire house. Judas comments that the the oil should have been sold to go to the poor. But since he has been stealing contributions, he says this only to keep up appearances, to uphold a façade. Jesus tells Judas to leave her alone so the oil can be used for the day of his burial. But also, Jesus wants her devotion to him to be hers to keep for his death and burial. The crowd that comes to see Jesus and Lazarus intend to kill them both because of the number of people who are coming to believe in Jesus. As Jesus remarks on the poor, he points us to the continuing presence of poverty while also calling attention to the unique and critical moment of his ministry.
God, through Isaiah, I hear you speak of Jesus when you say, “I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations.” The Church today is the continuation of your covenant with your people, carried out to continue the work of Christ. Let me dwell in the scene that John describes in the Gospel. Lazarus, the man Jesus raised from the dead, sits with Mary and Martha in the presence of Jesus to dine with him. Can I see this as an invitation for myself to be with him and to realize that just as you have grasped Jesus by the hand, calling him for the victory of justice, you do the same to me as his follower? Give me the grace to hear and understand your will and what it is you call me to.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.