Reflection for April 3, Monday of Holy Week: John 12:1-11

Gospel: 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.

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Reflection:

What can you offer Jesus this Holy Week? Can you offer Him your time by going through all of the liturgical celebration in your parish? Can you offer Him some of your treasures by helping somebody in need? Or you have nothing to offer to the Lord because Holy Week is just like one of the ordinary days for you. 

When you treat Holy Week as one of the ordinary days or you treat it as your vacation day. You miss something very significant in your life. You miss the opportunity to have a personal encounter with the Lord. You miss the opportunity to deepen your faith in the Lord. 

When Jesus went to the house of the siblings Mary, Martha and Lazarus, the three of them gave their precious time to the Lord. Martha prepared food, Mary was beside the Lord listening to Him and even anointed His foot with expensive perfume. Lazarus dined with Jesus and listened to Him as well. No wonder the three of them were close to the Lord because they gave their precious time to the Lord. 

Think also of how you could give your time to the Lord this Holy Week. It could be by listening to Him via podcast or youtube. it could be by serving Him or any activity that could bring you closer to the Lord. You can also read your bible and meditate and reflect on the readings about the passion of Jesus. This Holy Week, shut yourself out from this boisterous world and enough of the noise of this world for this will not bring you closer to Him. 

When you decide to spend time with Jesus this Holy Week you are already investing for your spiritual growth. Which you could always lean on when you go through episodes of turbulence in your life. 

How will you use your time this Holy Week? - Marino J. Dasmarinas