＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Isaiah 42: 1-7

 Here is my servant whom I uphold,

my chosen one in whom I delight. I have put my spirit upon him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He does not shout or raise his voice proclamations are not heard in the streets. A broken reed he will not crush, nor will he snuff out the light of the wavering wick. He will make justice appear in truth. He will not waver or be broken until he has established justice on earth; the islands are waiting for his law. 

Thus says God, Yahweh, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread the earth and all that comes from it, who gives life and breath to those who walk on it:  I, Yahweh, have called you for the sake of justice; I will hold your hand to make you firm; I will make you as a covenant to the people, and as a light to the nations, to open eyes that do not see, to free captives from prison, to bring out to light those who sit in darkness.

 

Ps 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14

the Lord is my light and my salvation. 

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

John 12: 1-11

 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Betha­ny where he had raised Lazarus, the dead man, to life.   Now they gave a dinner for him, and while Martha waited on them, Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus. Then Mary took a pound of costly perfume made from genuine nard and anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair. And the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

 Judas, son of Simon Isca­riot – the disciple who was to betray Jesus – remarked,   “This per­fume could have been sold for three hundred dinarii and turned over to the poor.”  Judas, indeed, had no concern for the poor; he was a thief and as he held the common purse, he used to help himself to the funds.  But Jesus spoke up, “Leave her alone. Was she not keeping it for the day of my burial?  (The poor you always have with you, but you will not always have me.)”

  Many Jews heard that Jesus was there and they came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead.  So the chief priests thought about killing Lazarus as well, for many of the Jews were drifting away because of him and believing in Jesus.

 

Gospel Reflection：

There is a subtleness and quiet to genuine goodness that contrasts with the boisterousness and showiness of evil that masquerades as good. The reading from the prophet Isaiah speaks of the true servant of God –one who does God’s will with little to no fanfare and yet accomplishes the task he has been given with great commitment and dedication.

In the gospel, Mary, the sister of Lazarus, sought to pay Jesus homage in the way she knew best, by quietly anointing his feet with perfume. Contrast that with the boisterous protest of Judas who even mentions “the poor”. We are told that he did so, not because he cared for them, but because he was stealing from the community’s funds.

May the Lord teach us the value of quiet, gentle and subtle service to our brothers and sisters, most especially those who are in need. May we always be reminded that the most valuable reward is that which comes from the heavenly Father who sees and values what we do in secret.