Monday 6th April 2020
Monday of holy week
Isaiah 42:1-7, John 12:1-11
That Jesus had the courage to
enter Jerusalem yesterday when we celebrated Palm/Passion Sunday was very
surprising to his disciples who have been warning him that the Jews had planned
to kill him if he enters the city. In the midst of all these troubles, only
Jesus himself knew that his time had come, and he was about to accomplish his
mission on earth and return to the father.
When people are passing through
difficulties and hardships, many of us do not understand them. Instead of
comforting them, we sometimes make some thoughtless statements that further
injure them.
As Jesus is approaching his
betrayal, crucifixion and death, the gospel reading tells us that Jesus decided
to enter bethany to go and greet Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha. It is
possible that instead of understanding with him and showing him love, his
disciples were still making things hard for him. Many of us may have heard
stories of how those who are very I'll and are about to die, call for their
loved ones to be around them
They want to experience love before they die.
His going to meet his friends in bethany therefore may be his attempt to
experience love from his friends before his death, since his own apostles could
not understand with him.
We even see how Judas was angry
that Mary was showing too much love to Jesus by anointing his feet and cleaning
it with her hair.
We are therefore called today to
try our best and be patient and
understanding with other people because we may never know what they are passing
through. They may be passing through the valley of the shadow of pain, torment
and death. We should also treat people as if it is the last time we are going
to see them. Mary in the gospel reading of today, did not miss her opportunity
to show her love for Jesus. Crying when people die has no meaning if you refuse
to show them love when they are alive. May almighty God grant us the grace to
be sensitive to the plight of others. Amen. God help us.
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie
MSP.
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