Sunday, April 09, 2006
Monday in Holy Week -
April 10, 2006
Monday in Holy Week - Yr II
ISAIAH 42:1-7
Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
Upon whom I have put my Spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the
nations, Not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in
the street. A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he
shall not quench, Until he establishes justice on the earth; the
coastlands will wait for his teaching. Thus says God, the LORD, who
created the heavens and stretched them out, who spreads out the earth
with its crops, Who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who
walk on it: I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I
have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant
of the people, a light for the nations, To open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those
who live in darkness.
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
The first readings on the first three days of Holy Week are taken from
the four Suffering Servant Songs which are found in the Prophesy of
Isaiah. There is not much agreement on who Isaiah meant the suffering
servant to be. The Church, however, has from its inception seen these
songs as pointing to the Lord Jesus.
Isaiah has the suffering servant bringing God's justice to the world.
To this end God will put his spirit on him, a spirit of peace, unmarked
by violence of any sort. His voice will be muted, he will be gentle,
especially toward the weak and the wounded. He will heal, open the eyes
of the blind, free prisoners from captivity. Through him God will bring
about the victory of justice, not merely, however, in the restoration
of Israel. For the servant has been appointed to establish a covenant
not only with the people of Israel but through Israel with all nations.
He carries with him God's desire for universal salvation.
Today's Gospel, as Fr. Carroll Stuhlmueller sees it, suggests the
attitude we should bring with us into Holy Week. Jesus, he points out,
understood Mary's anointing of his feet as preparation for his own
burial. Mary, however, saw it quite differently. She saw it as a
"supreme moment of loving devotion toward Jesus." This is the attitude,
the feelings the Christian should have as he moves though the events of
Holy Week. Jesus, our Lord, our friend, lived through these events,
conscious that he was about to suffer a brutally violent, physically
and emotionally painful death. He will need us to walk alongside of
him, to be with him. All our attention should be on Jesus, no other
distractions should be allowed. It's not that we should be constantly
speaking with Jesus. Silence is enough, along with feelings of concern
and compassion.
We are to walk with Jesus, then, as he passes though the mysteries of
his passion and death, suffering with him, admiring, consoling,
encouraging, strengthening him, and with the hope that the experience
of Holy Week will draw us far more intimately into friendship with him.
PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray ...
- for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the
unborn.
- for the eternal repose of the soul of Virginia S. Cruz. Eternal
rest grant unto her and may perpetual light shine upon her. May she
and all the souls of the dearly departed rest in peace.
- for the personal intentions of Charles and Cheryl C.
- for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Fr. Jose Cesar R. Marin, S.J.
- for world peace and reconciliation.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our
prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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� 2006 Daily-Homily
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