Remember Jn 12:1-8
Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom he had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there;
Martha waited on them and Lazarus was among those at table. Mary brought in a pound of very costly ointment, pure nard, and with it anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair; the house was full of the scent of the ointment.
Then Judas Iscariot – one of his disciples, the man who was to betray him – said,
‘Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor?’
Jesus said,
‘Leave her alone; she had to keep this scent for the day of my burial. You have the poor with you always, you will not always have me.’
Reflect
People of good will have been targeted for violence and even death simply because they believed in the name of Jesus, or God, or some high moral principle or human concern, greed or power i.e. doing the will of God.
The gospels are about loving the Father and caring, reaching out, supporting, understanding and forgiving each other.
“It is not the one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ who will enter the kingdom of Heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
In Ravensbrück concentration camp exclusively for women from 1939 to 1945was located in 90 km north of Berlin. An unknown prisoner and prophet wrote this prayer on a piece of wrapping paper and left it on the body of a dead child.
‘Oh Lord,
remember not only the men and women of goodwill, but also those of ill-will.
Do not remember all the suffering they have inflicted on us;
remember the good effects we have brought, thanks to this suffering
–our comradeship, our loyalty, our humility, our courage, our generosity,
-the greatness of heart which has come out of this,
and when they come to judgement, let all the fruits we have borne be their forgiveness.’
Prayer
Jesus,
in death you became like us, sharing our human destiny
By your resurrection you point the way to what lies ahead for us after death.
In bad times give us confidence and faith,
in good times give us hope and joy,
in all times you give us love, wisdom and forgiveness.
In Jesus name, Amen
Hymn Abide with me
Abide with me, fast falls the eventide
The darkness deepens Lord, with me abide
When other helpers fail and comforts flee
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away
Change and decay in all around I see
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee
In life, in death, o Lord, abide with me
Abide with me, abide with me
