Monday of Holy Week

April 6, 2020

Readings:

First Reading: Isaiah 42: 1-7

Psalm 27 “The Lord is my light and my salvation.”

Gospel reading according to John 12: 1-11

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Homily: Anointing of Jesus′ feet

Jesus once again went to Bethany, to the house of his beloved friends Lazarus and his sisters Martha and Mary, to attend to the forthcoming feast of the Passover to be held soon within six days.  “Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  They gave a dinner for him, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him” (John 12: 1-2).  Jesus usually stayed at the house of the family of Lazarus, Martha and Mary, his family friends when he has something to do in Judea and in particular in attending feasts in the Temple in Jerusalem because its nearness to it.  He can rest there without any worries and disturbances.  Lazarus was also the one whom Jesus raised from the dead after four days he was in the tomb and buried in a cave.  The brother and sisters were happy to see Jesus again.  So they gave a banquet in honor of Jesus, their special guest and friend.  As usual, Martha was busy in the kitchen preparing food, while Mary was in her room looking for something.  When she found it, she immediately went out of her room and came to Jesus. 

Mary brought with her an expensive perfumed oil made from genuine nard.  “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” (John 12: 3). Mary poured some of it to Jesus′ feet.  Even in a small amount the whole house was filled with its fragrance.  Mary was not contended only n pouring perfume to Jesus′ feet, she exposed herself to the men surrounding the reception area by wiping the feet of Jesus using her black, long and straight hair like a towel.  

Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus′ disciples, was lamenting and wishful (nanghihinayang) of the expensive perfume just wanted. “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” (John 12: 4-6).  Judas cannot believed that an expensive perfume be wasted just like that at the feet of Jesus.  He even suggested the remaining perfume be sold for three hundred days wages, that′s the equivalent amount of the perfumed oil, also equivalent to thirty pieces of silver with whom Jesus was betrayed, sold and handed over to the chief priests and elders. He suggested also that the proceed of the sale of the perfume oil be given to the poor, but in reality he wanted to take some amount for himself.  As procurator of the group, one who holds the money, he often steal some from the collections.

Then, Jesus scolded Judas for his bad intention and suggestion.   “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′.” (John 12: 7-8).  He told Judas to leave Mary in her doing in preparation for his coming death and burial.  He also said to Judas that let Mary keep what remains in the perfumed oil for his embalmment of his burial when he dies.  He even revealed to Judas the reality of the poor.  There are always poor throughout the whole world and in every age as long as there are abusive, corrupt, thieves in the society and in the government.  The poor remain but Jesus will soon be leaving and going back to his and our God and Father to the place where he came from – Heaven.

When the people heard that Jesus came and he was in Bethany, in the house of Lazarus, Martha and Mary, they hurriedly came to see him as well as to see Lazarus who was raised by Jesus from the dead.  They would get the news or gossip (makikiiusyoso sila).  “The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead” (John 12: 9). Aside from Jesus they would like also to see and to know Lazarus for they received a news that he was dead and was brought back to life, they wanted to see the proof of this miracle that already happened before to a young boy of a son of a widow, and to the daughter of Jairus.

While the chief priests and the elders who were very jealous and envy with Jesus for many Jews were following him and leaving the temple and synagogues, their religion were planning on how to kill Jesus so that they can bring back many Jews in their fold.  “And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him” (John 12: 10-11).  Not only Jesus they were plotting to kill but even Lazarus they wanted to kill for he was the living witness of Jesus′ miracle and God′s works of mercy, love and compassion.