CONTRASTS TO PONDER ON
We are now at the “dear days” of the Holy Week, or what we call “ang mga Mahal na Araw” in Filipino. Not only are they dear in the sense of being
heartfelt, but also precious or expensive. This is true because as we
commemorate these days the great events of Jesus’ Passion, Death and
Resurrection, we realize the costly price which God paid for our
salvation.
Also in terms of the liturgical readings, the biblical best has been saved for Holy Week (as the The Vatican II Weekday Missal puts it). The First Reading
is one of the so-called “Servant Songs,” poems from the second part of
Isaiah (Chapters 40-55) which depict the call of Israel as God’s
servant. The early Christians read these poems with reference to Jesus,
the Suffering Servant of God.
On the other hand, today’s Gospel passage presents us with two
contrasting images of servanthood in the persons of Mary and Judas. Both
of them were followers of Jesus, belonging to His inner circle and
sitting at His feet, so to speak. But the first was moved to splendid
generosity, while the other to hypocrisy and treachery. Similar, too,
was the double, contrasting result of the entire episode in the home of
Lazarus: a crowd of Jews came to see Jesus and Lazarus, while the chief
priests plotted to kill both.
It makes us ponder seriously on how and why such a gentle and meek
Servant (Jesus, who “shall not break a bruised reed nor quench a
smoldering wick”) could generate two differing responses. It’s a
no-brainer as to which of the two ought to be ours. But even if we do
honestly admit our Judas-like attitudes and misdeeds, we humbly atone
for our sins and we throw ourselves at the feet of Jesus for His mercy
and forgiveness. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB
REFLECTION QUESTION: Check yourself. What Judas-like attitudes do you have that you want to get rid of?
Help me, dear Jesus, to open myself to You. Purify me and cleanse me of my deeply ingrained bad habits and behavior.
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