Monday of Holy Week, March 30, 2026

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.

Reflection

This Gospel captures a moment that feels almost peaceful on the surface, Jesus gathered with close friends having a nice dinner, but it’s quietly surrounded by the weight of what is to come. Just days before His Passion, He chooses to be in the home of those who love Him... Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. What is so striking to me is that Judas is also there, and Jesus knows exactly who Judas is. He knows the betrayal is coming. And yet, He still allows him to remain. That’s not weakness but a level of mercy and patience that’s hard to comprehend. Jesus doesn’t immediately cast him out; He gives him time, space, and opportunity to change, even knowing what will happen.

In the Gospel, we see Mary give something incredibly valuable to Jesus and humble herself completely by wiping His feet of the oil with her hair. This isn’t just a kind gesture; it’s an act of service that is deeply personal and reverent. Then enters Judas, completely shifting the mood trying to misconstrue Mary's actions and disparage her saying, "Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages

and given to the poor?". On the surface, his words sound reasonable, help the poor, but the Gospel reveals his heart. He’s not concerned with generosity; he’s concerned with control and self-interest. What stands out is how he takes something beautiful and tries to twist it into something wasteful or wrong. And honestly, that reminds me life today. There are moments when you try to do something good, something sincere, and someone else questions it, misunderstands it, or even criticizes it. It can make you hesitate, second-guess yourself, or wonder if it was worth it at all. But this is where the Gospel comes in. Jesus defends Mary. He sees her heart, and that’s what matters. Not the opinions of others, not the misunderstandings, but the love behind the action. Mary shows us that love for Jesus is not always practical or efficient and sometimes, it will be misunderstood. But Jesus makes it clear, what is done out of genuine love for Him is never wasted.