Daily Readings - Mon Mar 26 2018
Isaiah
1Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.2He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;3a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.4He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.5Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:6"I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,7to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
John
1Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.2So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at the table.3Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said,5"Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?"6He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.7Jesus said, "Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial.8The poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me."9When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.10So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well,11because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.
Sermon
The first reading from Isaiah presents a vision of God’s servant, a figure of humility and justice, who is chosen and upheld by God. This servant is not one who cries out or breaks the bruised reed, but one who gently leads forth judgment and brings light to the nations. The passage emphasizes the servant’s mission to open the eyes of the blind, free the captive, and bring hope to those in darkness. This is a prophecy of the Messiah, who will fulfill this mission with compassion and integrity.
In the Gospel, we see a vivid contrast between Mary’s extravagant act of love and Judas’ criticism of her generosity. Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with costly ointment, an act of devotion that prepares him for his burial. Judas, on the other hand, feigns concern for the poor but is actually motivated by his own greed. Jesus defends Mary, reminding us that while we can always serve the poor, we do not always have him physically present among us. This moment in Bethany is a turning point, as the raising of Lazarus has drawn attention to Jesus, and the religious leaders begin to plot against both Jesus and Lazarus.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we respond to God’s presence in our lives. Mary’s actions show us the value of selfless love and surrender, while Judas’ reaction warns us against allowing our hearts to grow cold or selfish. Like the servant in Isaiah, we are called to be instruments of justice and light in the world, but this begins with a deep personal relationship with God. As we navigate our daily lives, may we choose to love extravagantly, serve humbly, and trust in God’s plan, even when the world around us seems to prefer darkness over light.