Reflection for April 11 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:

Do you allow hatred, greed and envy to sometimes rule over you? What normally is the product when you allow these evils to take control of you? 

The chief priests allowed these evil intentions to rule over them that’s why they plotted to kill Jesus and Lazarus. They saw in Jesus someone who could overthrow them from their seat of power, so they must kill Him whatever it takes. This they did successfully but what was the bargain for their successful plot against Jesus? They allowed the devil to take control of them.  

Hatred, greed and envy are methods of the devil to slowly trap someone to do what it dictates. Take for example corrupt politicians who would do everything to perpetuate themselves in power. Take for example spouses who allowed hatred and unforgiveness to rule over their love for their spouse.  

We all know where these evil emotions brought the chief priests. It brought them to plot the killing of Jesus. And so they thought that they were finally able to rid Jesus out of their system.  

But they were all wrong; by His resurrection Jesus was able to defeat their evil intentions. By His resurrection Jesus was able to impress upon the minds of the chief priests that their hatred, greed and envy have brought them nothing except further misery.  

The same is true with us all, if we allow the devil to sow hatred, greed and envy in our hearts. – Marino J. Dasmarinas