The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to 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 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.

Holy Monday

1) Mary is revealed as someone who has found Jesus in her life. She feels forgiven by God and is not one of those puritans who beat their chest to repent, but rather a person who knows herself as a forgiven sinner. She sees her brothers and sisters in the light of the forgiveness that she has received. It’s our turn now: we are called to be like Mary and praise God for having received His mercy.

2) Judas. Today we see this character – a selfish and calculating individual. A materialistic person who even uses God as a lucky charm. You and I can be like Judas, seeing money in everything! Even in God. We measure and calculate everything, even to the extent of estimating the amount of gasoline that our car will use to go to mass and then decide whether it suits us to go or not! Everything is money!

3)The poor. Today it would be good if you could think of what charitable action you can do at Easter time, perhaps you can prepare a meal for someone; do the shopping for someone who cannot go out; or keep in touch with people who are lonely, like the elderly in a nursing home. There are so many things we can do for others! Today we need Christians in action. Do you dare?

Have a good Holy week. God bless you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And don’t forget that Heaven is our goal!