Daily Readings - Mon Apr 06 2020
Isaiah
1Behold my servant, I will uphold him, my elect, with him my soul is well-pleased. I have sent my Spirit upon him. He will offer judgment to the nations2He will not cry out, and he will not show favoritism to anyone; neither will his voice be heard abroad3The bruised reed he will not break, and the smoldering wick he will not extinguish. He will lead forth judgment unto truth4He will not be saddened or troubled, until he establishes judgment on earth. And the islands will await his law5Thus says the Lord God, who created the heavens and expanded it, who formed the earth and all that springs from it, who gives breath to the people in it, and spirit to those walking on it6I, the Lord, have called you in justice, and I have taken your hand and preserved you. And I have presented you as a covenant of the people, as a light to the Gentiles7so that you may open the eyes of the blind, and lead out the prisoner from confinement and those sitting in darkness from the house of incarceration
John
1Then six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethania, where Lazarus had died, whom Jesus raised up2And they made a dinner for him there. And Martha was ministering. And truly, Lazarus was one of those who were sitting at table with him3And then Mary took twelve ounces of pure spikenard ointment, very precious, and she anointed the feet of Jesus, and she wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment4Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was soon to betray him, said5"Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the needy?6Now he said this, not out of concern for the needy, but because he was a thief and, since he held the purse, he used to carry what was put into it7But Jesus said: "Permit her, so that she may keep it against the day of my burial8For the poor, you have with you always. But me, you do always not have.9Now a great multitude of the Jews knew that he was in that place, and so they came, not so much because of Jesus, but so that they might see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead10And the leaders of the priests planned to put Lazarus to death also11For many of the Jews, because of him, were going away and were believing in Jesus
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful themes of service, justice, and self-giving love. The first reading from Isaiah introduces us to God’s chosen servant, a figure who embodies humility, compassion, and justice. This servant, filled with the Spirit, is gentle with the weak and brings light to those in darkness. The passage emphasizes God’s delight in this servant and his mission to establish justice and hope for all people.
In the Gospel, we see a beautiful act of love and devotion as Mary anoints Jesus with costly ointment. While Judas criticizes her generosity, Jesus defends her, explaining that this act is a preparation for his burial. This moment highlights the contrast between selfless love and worldly concerns. Mary’s gesture reflects a deep understanding of the mystery of Jesus’ mission and the sacrifice he would soon undertake.
Both readings call us to reflect on how we live out our faith in daily life. Like the servant in Isaiah, we are called to be instruments of justice and compassion, bringing light to those around us. Like Mary, we are invited to surrender our lives in love and trust, even when the path ahead is uncertain. May we, in our own way, anoint the feet of Jesus by serving others, trusting in God’s plan, and embracing the beauty of selfless love.