There were some who became indignant. “What a waste,” they said. Many people in the world today consider the time we give to God, a waste. Why spend on God, what you can spend on yourself. Why waste your time going to Church? Why waste your time going to confession? Why waste your time with penance, with sacrifice?
Jesus responded to those indignant with Mary: “Leave her alone. What she has done is beautiful, it is good. What this woman has done will always be remembered.” 2000 years later we continue to tell her story, and in the heart of God, her act of love for Jesus will truly be remembered forever.
The good we do for the Lord, whether it's done in secret or in public: charity for the poor, prayers of adoration, attendance at Mass, words of encouragement to the brokenhearted, these things will be remembered by God forever. Even acts of forgiveness—when we forgive someone in our hearts, someone who hurt us, when we let go of resentment, when we let go of a grudge, that is a gift of immeasurable value.
Today begins Holy Week, and it is a week filled with opportunities to give to God our best. We celebrate this week, how Our Lord gave his best, he gave his life, he gave his obedience and faithfulness to his Father, he gave the embrace of suffering we cannot fathom, he gave forgiveness and mercy to all of humanity of all ages.
What we do this week will be remembered forever. You will never regret giving God more, this week. Praying more, fasting more, sacrificing more. This could be the most powerful life changing week of your life—the week when you fell deeply in love with Jesus, when you encountered the depth of his love in all that he suffered for you.
He gave all, he sacrificed all, he gave the best he had, for us. May we do the same for Him, in our prayer, in our Holy Week fasting and penances. May we be poured out like that precious jar of ointment, like the blood poured out on the cross as an oblation to the Father, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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