Monday of Holy Week

John 12:1-11

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’

Music

Monday of Holy Week

Today is Monday of Holy Week, the 6 April.  

The St Thomas Music Group sing the Prayer of St Theresa by Margaret Rizza. Let nothing disturb you, nothing distress you. While all things fade away, God is unchanging.  Be patient, for with God in your heart, nothing is lacking.  God is enough.  

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John.    

We have now entered into the sombre drama of Holy Week; and we find ourselves in the story of a dramatic dinner-party in today’s reading, where Martha and Mary and Lazarus (but mainly the two sisters) are saying “thank-you” to Jesus for restoring Lazarus to life.  What is the mood of this “dinner-party”? How do you imagine the scene..?  

What is Judas Iscariot getting at do you think, when he talks about “giving the money to the poor”? How do you imagine this conversation to sound? The tone of Judas’ voice… The response of Jesus…  

As you hear the reading again, become aware of the fact that you are likely praying this in self-isolation or lockdown… How does the passage speak to you specifically at this time?  

Now talk to God, or perhaps to Jesus, about what you feel at the end of all this.

We adore you, O Christ and we bless you because by Your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world.