Monday, April 11, 2022

 Monday of Holy Week

(Isaiah 42:1-7; John 12:1-11)

Everyone is familiar with Martha and Mary.  In Luke’s gospel Jesus famously visits their home.  Martha complains to him that Mary has left her with the work.  Meanwhile Mary listens attentively to Jesus.  Today’s gospel shows what appears to be another visit to Martha and Mary’s home.  Martha is characteristically serving while Mary shows that she has probed at least part of the mystery of Jesus.

John’s gospel is supremely aware that Jesus’ death literally crowns his life.  His offering of self, much more than sacrificial bulls on the altar, atones for human sin.  Without it the world is condemned.  Mary acknowledges the awesomeness of Jesus’ death before it happens.  She anoints Jesus with an immense amount of precious oil to recognize the value of Jesus’ self-giving. 

We are aware of the debate over the question: do we do good works because we are saved or are we saved by our good works?  Mary’s anointing of Jesus and, indeed, the Gospel of John leave no doubt that we can do good works because of Jesus’ salvific death.  it sets us free from evil’s tenacious grasp so that we can truly love.  Like Mary does in today’s gospel, we will recognize this mystery in the reading of the Passion on Friday.

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