Giving The Best

Isaiah 42:1-7
John 12:1-11

Friends in Christ, this week is called Holy for a reason. It means something special is about to take place. How am I making it special for myself? What values do gain and preserve this graceful week? What will bring holiness to you follow in the Lord’s passion?

On Monday of the Holy Week, we embark on the journey with the Lord during His final moments of His earthly life; before His Hour of Glory: His death and resurrection. Our first reading (Is 42:1-7) points to the person of Christ who is the fulfilment of the covenants made so long ago. We could in a way see the reading as God dedicating His Son for the work He is about to accomplish. God holds us in His arms.

The actions in today’s gospel are leading to the passion of Christ at the end of the week. Mary the sister of Lazarus took a pound of costly ointment of pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment” (John 12.3). In the context of the gospel, this is clearly an anointing for his approaching death and burial.

Judas Iscariot the treasurer is shocked by the waste of money involved in the spectacular event, and protests, only to be silenced by Jesus. This story is well-known. Indeed, Mary must have known that opposition to Jesus was mounting and there may not be any more opportunities to so express her devotion. How are we maximizing our opportunities to be with the Lord? How many times do we bring our gifts to the Lord- gifts for his place of worship?

Focusing on the fragrance, we see two matched and balanced passages in the Gospel ofJohn, both concerning death. In the first, Lazarus suffers the ordinary death of humanity, which is associated with stench, but Jesus reverses that (John 11:43). In the second, it is in Lazarus’s own house that a woman prepares Jesus for his own death, by means of a glorious smelling ointment that multiply recalls the holiest images of the Temple and its religious practice and the restoration of Mount Zion in the heart of mankind. Thus, the overwhelming perfume of eternal life destroys the stench of death. The house becomes Heaven- God dwelling place.

Dearly beloved in Christ, the care for the poor is a sacred duty because it is the concern of God’s own heart. Those who share in his life will share in his concern for the poor and will act appropriately as he guides. Therefore, no time,effort or resources given to God is a waste for our thanksgiving had nothing to his greatness.

As we begin our Holy Week reflection, let us bring out the best of it by giving our best to it. We too must learn to embrace God’s will as Christ did, try to live in His ways and overcome our fears and doubts in life. May God send His Holy Spirit upon us, so that we can follow in His example in giving loving service to others. May He help us to be humble servants, not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less often, and thinking of others more.

Fr Joseph Osho