Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.
Bethany
1. Martha and Lazarus. Friendship is important both in your life and in the celebration of Mass. As we grow older, we tend to have fewer friends. But what matters most is making space and time to relax with your loved ones, with those people who love you and who do you good. The heart of life is not only finding your place but also finding your people.
2. Mary. In Mary, we see mercy and generosity. People who have experienced hardship in life often have a generous attitude towards people around them. So, dear friend, never overlook the importance of generosity because by giving generously, life tends to give back. Lending a hand to someone can make a big difference, and I believe that sooner or later kindness comes back to you. Keep helping, because somehow, goodness finds its way back.
3. The poor: “The poor you will always have with you,” Jesus said. Let’s make sure our missionary work is more than just social assistance — one should support the other, not replace it. Our journey involves struggle and the assurance that God is always by our side because He knows that we’re always in need of Him. May you have a blessed start to this Holy Monday and take time to delve into the depths of your soul.
Don’t forget that something good is on the way!
God bless you and protect you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
