[0410G] Gospel for Holy Monday

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." When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.

This is the appointed Gospel for Holy Monday.  There is a lot that one could focus on in this reading.  Mary of Bethany anointed Jesus.  Jesus speaks of this act as a preparation of his body for burial.  It is a beautiful moment in which Mary shows her devotion to her Lord.

Judas is offended by this act.  He attempts to portray his anger as righteous judgment on behalf of the poor.  Note that the Evangelist shows clearly that Judas has no interest in the poor.  Judas is a thief who takes what belongs to all the disciples and uses it for himself.

Jesus gives us a message about the poor that we would do well to hear.  He tells us that we will always have the poor in our midst.  This should not give us explicit permission to simply abandon the poor in the knowledge that poverty will never be wiped out.  It is still important to speak up and to act on behalf of the poor and the voiceless, even if by doing so we only lift up one out of that state of suffering.

In the context of Holy Week, we do well to remember Judas’ offense.  It will be from this moment that he becomes the betrayer whom we will find later in the Gospel and in this holiest of weeks.  We should be mindful of this not only as it is a portion of the Gospel, but also in order that we might always seek to avoid being offended by the words and presence of Christ our Lord and God.

The Rev’d Father Timothy Alleman, Rector

+   The Episcopal Church of the Holy Cross  +  Wilkes-Barre   +