Arulvakku

25.03.2024 — Astute Follower

Posted under Reflections on March 25th, 2024 by

Monday of the Holy Week – 25th March 2024 – Isaiah 42,1-7; Jn 12,1-11

Astute Follower

In the first reading, the first song of the suffering servant reveals the servant who is chosen by God, who does what is pleasing to God and to be anointed by the Spirit. This anointing of the Servant occurred on the day of Jesus’ Baptism when John the Baptist saw the Holy Spirit descend upon Jesus. The voice of the Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mt 3,17).  This chosen servant is being anointed in today’s gospel by Mary of Bethany. The anointing of the Spirit at the baptism prepared Jesus for public ministry of teaching, healing the blind and lame, casting out demons, working miracles; the anointing of Mary is an immediate preparation for Jesus’ passion and death as the Suffering Servant. Jesus tells her that she has anointed him for his burial. It means that she had been an astute follower of Jesus. She must have heard either from Jesus directly, or from others the predictions that Jesus had made regarding his passion. Jesus commends her for lavishing her attention on him and tells the disciples that they should take after her example. Not only that, but he tells them that she will be remembered always for her act of kindness towards him, a sign of a greater good to put Jesus first, and to love him with all one has.

23.02.2024 — Redemptive Death

Posted under Reflections on March 23rd, 2024 by

5th week in Lent, Saturday – 23rd March 2024 – Ezekiel 37,21-28; Jn 11,45-57

Redemptive Death

Jesus’ act of giving life to Lazarus leads to his own life being taken away. The raising of Lazarus provoked a divided response among the people: many believed in Jesus, and others went to inform the religious authorities of Jerusalem what Jesus had done. At the meeting of the council, the authorities expressed fear that Jesus and his followers might provoke a revolt.  Caiaphas, the high priest, accuses the council of being unable to understand the gravity of the situation. Fearing that he would lose power and everything he had, Caiaphas designs a strategy. His words challenge his listeners to get rid of Jesus so that the nation will not suffer. However, being high priest, Caiaphas’ words of political convenience were understood by his listeners to be message from God as well. John the evangelist seizes the high priest’s prophetic words to explain the fuller significance of Jesus’ death. Caiaphas, with his shrewdness and without knowingly, proclaimed that the death of Jesus would be redemptive both for the Jewish people and for all people. His death would not only save God’s people but would unify all who believe into a single-fold. By his death and resurrection, Jesus will bring salvation, holiness and renewed relationship with all people.

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