Monday, April 6, 2020

Monday of Holy Week(Jn 12:

United Nations International Day of Sports for Development and Peace

Readings of the Day
RB: Ch 54 Letters or Gifts
Mass: Is 42:1-7; Resp Ps 27; Jn 12:1-11


I believe I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living.


HEART OF JESUS, VESSEL OF JUSTICE AND LOVE,
HAVE MERCY ON US.

Today we have Jesus visiting his friends, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. It's no wonder that a large crowd followed Jesus: He had recently raised Lazarus from the dead (Jn 11:1-44). Sure, they wanted to see Jesus, but they also wanted to see the man He raised from the dead (Jn 12:9). Wouldn't you?

What has been sticking with me all morning while going about a deep cleaning of a highly trafficked area of the monastery is this: "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today." Martha didn't; she got busy and served Jesus and Lazarus (Jn 12:2). Mary didn't; she anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair (Jn 12:3). Not surprisingly, ill-intentioned Judas complained (Jn 12:5). Jesus' response? Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me (Jn 12:7-8).

Let us not put off until tomorrow what we can do today. Write that letter; make that phone call; forgive; make peace; make your favorite dish; wear your fancy sweater. Be grateful. Jesus is always with us.

We pray with the Holy Father:

Where there is overcrowding, there is danger in this pandemic that it winds up being a grave tragedy. Let us pray for those responsible, and for those who need to make decisions in this area, that they may find a correct and creative way to resolve the problem.

Today's photo. Wild apple tree. A bit o beauty from Mount Angel Abbey, Oregon, courtesy of JD.

© Gertrude Feick 2020

No comments:

Post a Comment