Holy Week 2026 - Monday - Jesus God worthy of our lavish love

 I was talking with a group of third graders about the events of Holy Week, and we discussed the scene from our Gospel today. “Why did Mary take a jar of perfumed oil that cost thirty thousand dollars in today’s money and pour it all out and wash Jesus’ feet with it?” I asked the third graders.  And one of the children raised their hand and gave the perfect answer: “Because he is God.”

It is not surprising that we find this story in the Gospel of John—which so often—emphasizes Jesus’ divinity. He is the Word Made Flesh. Throughout the Gospel Jesus ascribes to himself the divine name “I Am”; he possesses divine attributes—glory and grace and truth, having life in himself; he performs divine works: the miracles, especially raising the dead; he claims to be able to do what only God can do granting eternal life to whomever he wills, exercising divine judgment. And showing himself to be worthy of faith and divine honor: “you have faith in God, have faith also in me”. Thomas after Jesus’ resurrection exclaims “my Lord and my God”.

It is important for us, at the beginning of Holy Week, to recall that Jesus is God, a fact that Judas, and the chief priests, and all those who called for his crucifixion, failed to believe. Otherwise we misunderstand the events of this week. If Jesus were merely a good man, then His Passion would be tragic, moving, even inspiring—but no more than that. It would be the sad story of a righteous man who was rejected and killed. 

But because Jesus is truly God, His suffering and death have saving power. His Cross is not simply an example of courage; it is the altar of our redemption. His blood is not merely the blood of a martyr; it is the blood of the Son of God poured out for the salvation of the world.

Jesus’ suffering and death is the great account of God’s love—divine mercy freely poured out

Jesus is God come to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves, and because Jesus is God, He is worthy of the extravagant love Mary shows Him in today’s Gospel. Her anointing is not excessive. Love is never wasted when it is given to God. He is worthy of all praise, honor, glory, and thanksgiving. 

May our faith, hope, and love for Jesus be lavish this week. May we give Jesus the best we have in adoring Him, in contemplating Him, recognizing that He is God come to save us out of love for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - - - -  

As we enter into this most sacred week, let us lift up our hearts in prayer, offering God our love and trust as Mary of Bethany once did, with confidence that He hears and answers.

For the Church throughout the world: that she may be filled with the fragrance of holiness, drawing all people to the love and mercy of Christ during this Holy Week. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all bishops, priests, and deacons: that in their preaching, celebrating the sacraments, and personal prayer, they may pour out their lives in love for Christ and His people. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those preparing to enter the Church at Easter: that this Holy Week may deepen their love for Christ and strengthen their desire to follow Him faithfully. Let us pray to the Lord.

For all Christians: that like Mary of Bethany, we may spend time this week contemplating Jesus—adoring Him, listening to His word, and offering Him our very best. Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who have fallen away from the Church: that the witness of Christian love—visible and fragrant in our lives—may draw them back to seek the Lord who gave His life for them. Let us pray to the Lord.

For the poor, the lonely, and all who suffer: that through the compassion and generosity of others, they may know the tender love of Christ poured out for them. Let us pray to the Lord.

For our beloved dead: that having sought the face of Christ in this life, they may now behold Him in eternal glory. Let us pray to the Lord.

Heavenly Father, receive our prayers and pour out your grace upon us. May we offer the best of ourselves in love and adoration, that our lives may bear witness to your glory. Through Christ our Lord.

July 29 2024 - Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus - Sibling Saints

 

We honor today three sibling saints who honored and served the Lord during his earthly ministry. In the household of Bethany, the Lord Jesus experienced the family spirit and friendship of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. Martha generously offered him hospitality, Mary listened attentively to his words and Lazarus, who promptly emerged from the tomb at the Jesus’ command, no doubt offered gratitude and friendship during Jesus’ later stay at Bethany.

These three saints offer several lessons in growing in sanctity. Like St. Martha, we are to serve others in practical ways, including generous hospitality. Like St. Mary, we are to listen attentively to the Lord, pondering his words, taking them to heart, spending time in his presence, particularly in Eucharistic adoration. And like St. Lazarus, we are to obey the Lord to come out of our metaphorical tombs and live in a state of gratitude.

St. Martha is a patron saints of homemakers and domestic workers. St. Lazarus is the patron of gravediggers. And St. Mary of Bethany, a model of listening to the Lord, is patron of spiritual studies.

In the Gospels, Jesus himself foretold a time when families and households would be divided over him. “From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. Father against son . …daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law” and so on. 

So many families in our modern-day experience division due to rejecting Jesus and his teachings. So we do well to, invoke Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus for our divided families. For these sibling saints show us that family unity is possible when there is mutual love and faith in Jesus. 

These sibling saints, enjoyed a real, personal, and human friendship with Jesus. In so many ways, this is exactly what Jesus wants with each of us. He wants us to know the sound of his voice, to spend time with Him, converse with Him, and trust Him in good times and bad. His light fills our lives when we draw close to him in prayer, service, and trust.

We grow in friendship with the Lord by inviting Him into the home of your souls every day and throughout the day. May these three sibling saints help us to deepen our Love for the Lord for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - -  

For the Church, that like Martha, we may serve others generously and offer hospitality to those in need. Lord, hear our prayer.

For all who seek truth, that like Mary, we may listen attentively to God's word and spend time in His presence. Lord, hear our prayer.

For those struggling with doubt or despair, that like Lazarus, we may respond to Christ's call to come out of our tombs and live lives of gratitude. Lord, hear our prayer.

For families divided by disagreements over faith, that through the intercession of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, they may find unity in Christ's love. Lord, hear our prayer.

For all of us, that we may cultivate a deep and personal friendship with Jesus, inviting Him into our hearts and homes each day. Lord, hear our prayer.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of human trafficking, natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for the unborn, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Loving Father, we thank you for the example of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, who showed us different ways to love and serve your Son. Grant us what we need to know the benefit of their heavenly intercession and follow their holy example. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Holy Week 2022 - Monday - Love for Christ and Love for the Poor

 From time to time, you come across a critic of the Church who claims that the grandeur of our church buildings, our precious vessels and vestments, our art, are all a slap in the face to the poor and hungry. The critic claims that instead of spending money on art and architecture, the money should be given to the starving and homeless.

The critic usually ignores the fact that already the Catholic Church does more to aid the poor than any other private organization in the world, that many religious brothers, sisters, and priests take a vow of poverty and renounce everything for God, and that countless Catholic families and individuals do sacrifice much of their income for the needs of the downtrodden.

In the attitude of such a critic, one often detects a bit of the attitude of Judas in the Gospel today. When Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus with the precious anointment, Judas calls it a waste. Let’s ignore, for a second the fact, that Judas was a thief, and was stealing money from the community purse, and that he justified theft in order to satiate his greed. Judas sneers at Mary’s devotion, her act of love, because Judas was loveless toward Jesus. He derides the act homage as a waste of time and money because he does not actually know how to give of himself. He hides his selfishness behind this fake concern.

To the world, our observances of holy week, our acts of devotion during these High Holy Days of our faith, are a waste of time and money. Why buy easter lilies that will wither and rot? Why use precious incense and vestments? Why waste time and effort in processions, venerations, silent prayer and fasting? For the same purpose we build grand churches, because we love Christ. 

Our love for Christ does not diminish our love and care for the poor and downtrodden. As true love for Christ increases, love for others increases. For we are to seek to serve Him in the poor. You can’t love God and hate your brother.

Our service, our worship, our art and architecture, our holy week devotions, are all expressions of our immense gratitude for what the Lord has done for us, the immensity of what he suffered for us, the blessings he has bestowed upon us.

So the snarky critic of the Church’s lavish worship of Christ, needs to look at the whole—the whole life of the Church—how our lavish love for Christ actually fuels our other charitable endeavors. 

So we must not be embarrassed to express our lavish devotion in concrete ways, especially during holy week. Yes, there might be some Judas’ out there who will mock and deride us. But there are also those on the fringes who will be converted when they witness our devotions, hard hearts that will be softened when they see our love for him, who goes to the cross for us, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

 

That God may be pleased to increase faith and understanding in the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity. 

That those in need may find assistance in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

Holy Week 2021 - Monday - Lavish Charity in the House of Bethany

The Gospel for Monday of Holy Week presents two very different attitudes towards Jesus. One attitude symbolized by Mary, Martha and Lazarus, and another symbolized by Judas Iscariot on the other.

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus recline with Jesus, they share intimacy with Him, serve Him and anoint Him. Lazarus is gratefully aware that the Master raised him from the dead and wants to share that joy with others as he invites friends to a banquet in his home to meet Jesus. Mary lavishly shows her love and affection for Jesus by anointing his holy feet with expensive perfumed oil and drying his feet with her hair.

But not Judas. Judas snickers, Judas sneers, Judas mocks. Judas envies. He covets. 

The Church, of course, is to embody the spirit of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary: serving Jesus, bringing people closer to Jesus that they may share with him in the banquet of life, lavishly pouring out our very best, our very selves to honor and love Jesus.

Very often, we encounter the spirit of Judas Iscariot, though, don’t we, sneering and snickering at the Church’s most holy expressions of love for Jesus—our liturgy, our care for the poor. The Church is mocked sometimes by her own members for if that unholy spirit can infiltrate the twelve, it can certainly infiltrate the Church. It is a whisper that even many devoted Catholics have heard in their own hearts—don’t serve Him, it’s too costly, you have more important things to do. The Spirit of Judas is always trying to turn people away from the lavish love of God.

What seems like an incredible waste of time, money, and effort to the world—our service, our worship, our prayers, are to be offered in a spirit of profound and lavish charity, like Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in the Gospel today. Judas cries out that all this is a waste. But we know better.  Our lavish expressions of holy friendship with Him, our love of Him, our expressions of  gratitude for how he has blessed us, and for the immensity of what he suffers for us, are holy to God.

So, we must not be embarrassed in our lavishly loving Him, we must not hold back from lavishly serving him, and we must not be hesitant in inviting those who hunger for his goodness, his truth, and his beauty, to the table of the Lord. Yes, there are many Judas’ out there, but there are also many on the fringes, who are yearning to meet Him, know Him, and love Him. 

Each of us does well today to reflect upon how we can show our gratitude to the Lord, how we can serve the Lord, and how we can bring others to know the Lord, even perhaps to soften the hearts of the Judases of the world, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - -
 

That God may be pleased to increase faith and understanding in the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity. 

That those in need may find assistance in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

 

Holy Week 2019 - Monday - His Holy Feet

What a beautiful, intimate, tender, moment, we’ve just heard described on this Monday of the Holiest Week of the year, when Mary anoints the feet of Jesus, and washes them with her hair.

In ancient Israel, anointing was usually used for rituals of elevating one's status, such as anointing the head of one becoming a priest, prophet, or king. Priests, prophets, and kings were anointed to show that they had a special task from God. The word ‘Christ’ is the Greek Word for anointed one. Jesus is the Christ, the one anointed for the ultimate mission of human redemption.

Anointing was also done at burial. Not just the head, but the entire body would be anointed with oil.
Here in Bethany, neither Jesus’ head nor his entire body was anointed, but only his feet. Why his feet? Perhaps simply as an act of devotion and love. Perhaps Mary falls at Jesus’ feet as one would fall at the feet of a King, to show her belief that he is Christ the King.

But perhaps also to draw our attention to his Holy Feet. So that we would watch where his feet trod this Holy Week. His feet which trod the Via Crucis, the way of the cross. His feet which trod the hot and dusty roads of the Holy Land to bring the Good News to the poor, now blaze a path for his disciples to follow. His feet are pierced for our offenses.

It is at his feet, the Mary chose the better portion. Rather, than becoming busy with the things of the world, like her sister Martha, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet to listen to him, to learn from him. And unlike her sister, Martha, who complained about the odor that would come from the tomb, Mary’s anointing of Jesus’ feet fills the house with the fragrance of love and devotion.

Through the Lord’s willingness to walk the path of obedience to his Father’s Will, It is his feet which will crush the head of the ancient serpent. Because of his faithfulness, St. Paul says “God put everything under His feet.”

Sometimes as Christians, we are called to walk down paths that are terrifying, the flesh often abhors the road of the spirit, our feet want to run away from sacrifice and penance, run away from the stranger calling out for help. But as members of the Body of Christ, we are called to walk where he walked, follow where he leads, and perhaps be the feet that crushes Satan still at work in the world.
This Holy Week may our adoration of His Holy Feet, help us to walk where he has walked, to follow Him all the way to the cross, in subjection of our whole lives to His Holy Rule for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - -
 
For increased faith and understanding in the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity.

That those in need may find assistance in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

Holy Week 2018 - Monday - Charity in the house of Bethany

The Gospel presents two very different attitudes towards Jesus: symbolized by Mary, Martha and Lazarus on one hand, and Judas Isacriot on the other.

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus recline with Jesus, serve Him and anoint Him. Lazarus is gratefully aware that Jesus had raised him from the dead and wants to share that joy with others as he invites everyone to a banquet in his home to meet Jesus. Mary lavishly shows her love and affection for Jesus by anointing his holy feet with expensive perfumed oil and drying his feet with her hair.

But not Judas. Judas snickers, Judas sneers, Judas mocks. Judas wants to get rid of Jesus.

The Church is to embody the spirit of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary: serving Jesus, bringing people closer to Jesus that they may share with him in the banquet of life, lavishly pouring out our very best, our very selves to honor and love Jesus.

And very often, the world is like Judas Iscariot. Sneering and snickering at the Church, mocking the Church, trying to turn people away from the Church’s lavish worship of the Lord.

But we must not be embarrassed in our lavish worship of Him, we must not hold back from lavishly serving him, and we must not be hesitant in inviting those who hunger for his goodness, his truth, and his beauty, to the table of the Lord.

What seems like an incredible waste of time and money to the world—our service, our worship, our efforts, is an expression of our immense gratitude for what the Lord has done for us, the blessings he bestows upon us, and the immensity of what he suffers for us, which we meditate upon later this week.

Each of us does well today to reflect upon how we can show our gratitude to the Lord, how we can serve the Lord, and how we can bring others to know the Lord, even perhaps to soften the hearts of the Judases of the world, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - - - - -
 
That God may be pleased to increase faith and understanding in the catechumens and candidates who approach the sacraments of initiation in the coming Paschal Solemnity.

That those in need may find assistance in the charity of faithful Christians and that peace and security may be firmly established in all places.

For strength to resist temptation, and the humility to sincerely repent of sin.

That through fasting and self-denial, we may be ever more conformed to Christ.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Mercifully hear, O Lord, the prayers of your Church and turn with compassion to the hearts that bow before you, that those you make sharers in your divine mystery may always benefit from your assistance.

Homily: Monday of Holy Week 2017 - Actions speak louder than words

painting by DANIEL F. GERHARTZ

What did Mary know? What did she understand? What was in her heart when she poured this anointment over Christ? What did she grasp about his identity, that she perform this very strange and costly action?

In the Old Testament, prophets are of course known for their preaching, calling people to repentance, inviting people back to intimate union with God. But they are also known for their actions. They would often perform strange actions which carried deep symbolic meaning.

Think of Elisha commanding Naaman the Syrian to go and wash himself in the Jordan. Isaiah strips off his clothing, shames himself, to expose the shame of Israel’s enemies. Hosea marries a prostitute to show how Israel had given herself over to false gods.

Jesus, too, uses prophetic gestures to show deeper meaning: he changes water into an abundance of wine, to show the abundance of God’s blessing, he puts clay on the blind man’s eyes showing that he restores us to an Eden-like state.

What is Mary, sister of Lazarus doing with this costly oil? Perhaps, she is simply thanking the Lord for raising her brother from the dead. It certainly shows her profound love for Him, a love we all do well to emulate. But, perhaps she did grasp something, the fruit of contemplating the face of Jesus as Martha her sister was busy at work around her. The anointing with oil certainly shows that Jesus is the anointed one, the one chosen by God to save us from our sins. The costliness of the oil shows the preciousness of his own sacrifice.

In scripture, so often, actions speak louder than words. And so to in our own lives. During this Holy Week, we do well to open the jars of costly anointment for the Lord—bringing Him our best, giving our best for Him.

I cannot help but thinking of the nearly 50 people who were killed by Islamic terrorists in Egypt yesterday on Palm Sunday. They gave their lives for Him. And we are called to do the same.
In our gestures of love for the needy, in our prayer, in our fasting, in our observance of the Holy Week liturgies, in preparing our homes and hearts for the Easter festivities.

During this Holy Week, our love and affection for Jesus should fill the room like the fragrance of ointment.  It should be detectable by those we meet. That they too perhaps can be drawn into the relationship of divine love for the glory of God and salvation of souls.