Daily Readings - Mon Mar 26 2018
First Reading - Isaiah 42.1-7
Isaiah
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
Gospel - John 12.1-11
John
Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead.But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on 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.