Monday of Holy Week, March 25, 2024

Gospel

Jn 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.

Reflection

What stuck out to me in this Gospel was the fact that Jesus knew Judas would betray him and yet he didn’t treat him any differently. He still showed him unwavering compassion and understanding. When Judas asked "Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages and given to the poor?”, Jesus knew he didn’t say this in concern for the poor, but for his own gain and yet his only reply was "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”. Almost hinting to Judas of what was to come, of the worse betrayal he knew would take place. Even knowing this Jesus continued to include Judas among his disciples and offered him love and acceptance. Passages like these remind me of Matthew 5:43-44, “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”.

In today's world, this concept holds little value and to most would make no sense. Why would you love your enemy? In a society where betrayal and mistrust are unfortunately prevalent, Jesus' response to Judas eludes most. I think this is because forgiveness is not a common instinct. It challenges our innate sense of justice and our inclination towards self-preservation. We're often conditioned to respond to hostility with hostility, to meet betrayal with retaliation. However, Jesus' example serves as a powerful reminder of mercy, love and forgiveness. While Judas may not have chosen forgiveness in the end, the hand was still there and Jesus gave him every opportunity. I think it speaks to the possibility of redemption and reconciliation, even in the face of betrayal and brokenness.