Monday, March 29, 2010

Monday of Holy Week

Daily Readings for Lent
Today's readings: March 29, 2010
First ReadingIs 42:1-7;
Responsorial Psalm27:1, 2, 3, 13-14 ;
Gospel
Jn 8:12-20 ;

And here's an audio file and a video of a priest offering reflections.

First Reading:  Is 42:1-7 ;
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
Upon whom I have put my Spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
Not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
A bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
Until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching. Thus says God, the LORD,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spreads out the earth with its crops,
Who gives breath to its people
and spirit to those who walk on it:
I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
To open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

Responsorial Psalm  27:1, 2, 3, 13-14 ;
R.          The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life’s refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?
R.         The Lord is my light and my salvation.
When evildoers come at me
to devour my flesh,
My foes and my enemies
themselves stumble and fall.
R.         The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Though an army encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
Though war be waged upon me,
even then will I trust.
R.         The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.
R.         The Lord is my light and my salvation.

Gospel   Jn 12:1-11
Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany,
where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served,
while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.
Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil
made from genuine aromatic nard
and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair;
the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples,
and the one who would betray him, said,
“Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages
and given to the poor?”
He said this not because he cared about the poor
but because he was a thief and held the money bag
and used to steal the contributions.
So Jesus said, “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.”
The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came,
not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus,
whom he had raised from the dead.
And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too,
because many of the Jews were turning away
and believing in Jesus because of him.

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Commentary: Today's readings open our hearts to a gentle and tender love we all can share with each other as we walk through our lives. And how often times, people can make it difficult on those who open their hearts to share and receive this wonderful blessing of tenderness.  We are also asked to enter into this kind of relationship with God, who loves us more than we might even imagine.

During Holy Week, we are all asked to spend some extra quiet time in prayer. So, I thought I would share a wonderful prayer that is part of the Divine Office. I hope it gives you the courage to lose your fears, and open your hearts to the tenderness within. If you find yourself at odds with anyone - go reconcile before the week is out. God dwells in each and every one of us. Be generous and shine your light to everyone, not just the little corner of the world you feel safe in. We are supposed to knock the sides out of our box, not crawl in it.

Lord Jesus Christ
you have given your followers
an example of gentleness and humility,
a task that is easy, a burden that is light.
Accept the prayers and work of this day,
and give us the rest that will strengthen us
to render more faithful service to you
who live and reign forever and ever.