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The Catholic Calendar for Monday, March 25, 2002 Monday of Holy Week Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word: Isaiah 42:1-7 Psalm 27:1-3,13-14 John 12:1-11 A reflection on today's Scripture: "...the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil." (John 12:3) As God looks upon His children, He does not keep count of how many times they pray the Rosary, how often they've denied themselves treats, how many dollars they give to Church and charity or the number of good works performed each day. God looks directly into our hearts to our motivations, the reasons behind our behavior. He recognizes us as His true children if our thoughts, words and deeds spring directly from His Divine Love overflowing from our hearts. Although we can't fathom people's hearts nor know all circumstances influencing their behavior, Jesus gives a general rule that can provide some insight: "By their fruit you will know them." Today's Gospel illustrates this. Judas claims that the ointment lavished by Mary on Jesus' feet could have been better used if sold and the money given to the poor. Surely, this would have proven lucrative for him who, as keeper of the purse and a known thief, could have helped himself to the money. What should have caused joy in the religious establishment, the arrival of the Messiah proven by His power over life and death, struck terror in them, aroused the murderous instinct of self-preservation. Lacking God's Spirit, many saw Jesus not so much as a threat to their faith as to their powerful, esteemed positions and comfortable life style. Mary's anointing of Jesus was an act of genuine love and gratitude for Him who had freed her from demonic obsession and given her a new life. Her act was not done to gain something more from Jesus; she had already received the greatest possible good from Him. We will remember Mary for the purity of her love for Jesus. Blessed Lord, fill us with your life, that our every word and deed may spread abroad the fragrance of Your love. Amen. - Marie L. Bocko, ocds ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) YOU CAN HELP to evangelize the Word of God: Please recommend our website to your friends and Catholic webmasters. The Daily Meditations appear online in English & Spanish at: http://homepage.mac.com/ojoachim3/DailyMeds.html ARCHIVED Meditations at: http://www.abcsoffaith.com/quiet/quietplace.html and at: http://www.mail-archive.com/dailymed%40saturn.nibcomp.com For ALL communications, including subscribe/unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (c)2002 The Way, The Truth, The Life. Permission granted to make reprints of the meditations or to post on any web page, except for profit. All scripture quotes are from the Douay-Rheims edition of the Catholic Bible. Full text from the New American Bible: http://www.nccbuscc.org/nab/index.htm Lives of the Saints: http://www.christdesert.org/public_texts/martyrology/ |
Title: Meditation: Monday, March 25, 2002
