Daily Readings - Mon Mar 25 2024
Isaiah
1Behold 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.2He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.3A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.4He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.5Thus 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:6I 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;7To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.
John
1Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.2There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.3Then 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.4Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?6This 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.7Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.8For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.9Much 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.10But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death;11Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful images of service and love. The first reading from Isaiah describes a humble servant of the Lord, chosen to bring justice and light to the nations. This servant is not one who seeks power or recognition but instead moves with compassion and gentleness, not breaking the bruised reed or extinguishing the smoldering wick. The servant’s mission is to bring hope and liberation, even to those in darkness and confinement. This passage is a beautiful expression of God’s desire to restore and redeem His people through a servant who embodies humility and mercy.
In the Gospel, we see a different kind of service. Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with costly perfumed oil, an act of extravagant love and devotion. While Judas criticizes her for what he sees as wastefulness, Jesus defends her, explaining that her action is a preparation for His burial. This moment highlights the tension between worldly concerns and spiritual priorities. Mary’s gesture is not about efficiency or practicality but about love and surrender. It reminds us that true service to God and others often requires sacrifice and a willingness to give without reserve.
These readings invite us to reflect on how we serve God and others in our own lives. Are we like the servant in Isaiah, moving with compassion and humility, or are we more like Judas, focused on what seems practical and efficient? Mary’s example calls us to love without counting the cost, to trust that our acts of kindness and generosity, no matter how small they may seem, have profound significance. As we strive to live as servants of the Lord, may we embrace the humility and love that these readings inspire, remembering that true greatness lies in surrendering ourselves to God’s will and serving others with hearts full of grace.