26-Mar-18

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:
"Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany,
where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead."
The dying and rising of Lazarus was a sign of what was to come: the dying and rising of Jesus during the Passover celebration.
By not coming in time to save Lazarus from death, Jesus was then able to raise him back to life. Many of His doubters and distractors were standing at Lazarus' tomb when Jesus called Lazarus to "Come out."
A week later, following Jesus' crucifixion, death and burial, surely both His followers and His distractors were thinking, "He raised Lazarus...will He raise Himself?”
In the course of our life, we die and are raised many times. Like Lazarus' burial bandages, our sin holds us captive. But, when we shake off the sin that binds us, we too are able to "Come out."
Thirty two years ago I was held captive by alcohol. On my knees, I cried out to Jesus, "Help me. Please help me."
My Lord and brother Jesus called me out and guided me to AA, then to Cursillo and ultimately to My Brother's Keeper.
When we shake off the sin which holds us captive, Jesus raises us up and guides us toward "His will" for our life.
"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."
To wash the feet of another person is an act of service; to allow someone to wash our feet is sign of humility.
Today, thousands of people who have come to know Jesus Christ "wash the feet" of those in need through their service. And thousands of those in need "humbly'" accept their help.
God did not create us to be "held captive." He created us to spread His love and hope, to set free those who live in despair.
"The Lord God has put his Spirit in me. This is because he has appointed me to tell the good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort those whose hearts are broken. He has sent me to tell those held captive they are free...." ISAIAH 61:1